Chapter v10c16: Wijicheon’s Rampage

– The Blazing Black Flames of Jealousy

“No… Miss Na… No. Why are you showing such a radiant smile to someone like him? A smile you’ve never shown me even once. Why to someone like him…?”

From the moment Na Yerin embraced Bi Ryu Yeon, Wijicheon had been secretly watching them. It was both a stroke of luck and misfortune for him. The unbearable black flames of jealousy burned in Wijicheon’s chest. He felt as if his heart was being torn into a thousand pieces. He wanted to tear Bi Ryu Yeon, who was laughing and chatting in front of him, into shreds. A fierce killing intent emanated from his eyes.

“If only you… if only you were dead… if only you didn’t exist in this world… I could make that smile mine. Mine…”

That remained to be seen. But his sharp mind had long since become clouded like muddy water. Wijicheon was already blinded by jealousy, his vision blurred, his ears dulled, and his heart turned black. He had fallen so far that he couldn’t even distinguish between right and wrong. He was showing the pinnacle of foolishness. Moreover, he was currently blinded by jealousy. He couldn’t make rational judgments. He pulled out another secret weapon hidden in his clothes.

Besides the Divine Phoenix Needle, Wijicheon had one more secret weapon. After giving him the Divine Phoenix Needle, the person had handed him another item, explaining that it was for emergencies. It was a highly explosive item called the Flame Demon Thunder , which was currently banned in the martial world. Wijicheon didn’t want to use it unless absolutely necessary. A single mistake could put him in danger as well. He had hoped to end it with the Divine Phoenix Needle, but that hope had long since vanished.

Seeing Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin’s affectionate interaction once more—though it was purely his interpretation—Wijicheon finally lost his sanity. He was in a state of complete mental paralysis regarding his actions.

The state of mental paralysis caused by his ‘Wijicheon-style arbitrary expansion and amplification imagination’ continued until he finished setting up the Flame Demon Thunder. He had already lost his temper when Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin started chatting affectionately.

Wijicheon picked up a stone next to him and threw it towards the opposite curved passage. The stone flew silently in a spiral and landed inside the curved passage of the opposite cave.

Thud!

The sound of the stone hitting the cave wall echoed.

“What was that sound?”

Na Yerin flinched at the sudden noise.

“It’s probably nothing. I’ll go check it out!”

Bi Ryu Yeon stood up and cautiously walked towards the passage where the sound came from. Finally, the two who had been annoyingly close were separated.

‘Good!’

Seeing the distance between Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin increase, Wijicheon pressed the timer on the Flame Demon Thunder with mad eyes. Smoke began to seep out from the seams of the black sphere, indicating that the fuse inside was burning.

With a sufficient distance from Na Yerin, he felt much more at ease. That distance was enough to ensure safety.

Driven mad by jealousy at the sight of Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin, Wijicheon didn’t hesitate to throw the Flame Demon Thunder with all his might.

Thud, roll, roll…

The Flame Demon Thunder flew in an elegant arc and rolled to a stop at Bi Ryu Yeon’s feet.

[Danger!]

Wijicheon shouted as he ran towards Na Yerin. His shout echoed loudly in her ears, but it was a telepathic message that only Na Yerin could hear. He intended to pull Na Yerin out of the danger zone before the Flame Demon Thunder exploded. Of course, behind Wijicheon’s quick actions was the calculation that he would be hailed as a hero and receive immense gratitude if he saved Na Yerin’s life. But not everything in the world goes as planned!

Na Yerin’s gaze shifted from Wijicheon running towards her to the Thunder Bomb rolling on the ground. Recognizing the smoke seeping from the seams and its shape, Na Yerin instantly remembered that it was a highly dangerous item rarely used in the martial world.

“Gasp!”

Wijicheon was startled. Just as he was about to grab Na Yerin’s hand, she deftly shook off his arm.

“Miss Na!”

Wijicheon called out urgently. But Na Yerin didn’t even glance at him. Without hesitation, she dashed towards Bi Ryu Yeon at the speed of the wind. It was a fatal miscalculation on Wijicheon’s part.

“Get away!”

Na Yerin shouted. Her body collided with Bi Ryu Yeon’s. At that moment!

Flash!

A blinding white flash, as if to swallow the world, burst forth like sunlight, followed by a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the cave.

Boom, boom, boom!

The unimaginable power of the Flame Demon Thunder left Wijicheon in shock. The explosion was not just enough to blow away Bi Ryu Yeon.

Bang! Boom, boom, boom! Bang! Bang!

A chain collapse began to occur, centered on the explosion’s origin. The Phantom Demon Cave couldn’t withstand the explosive force and started to crumble.

Wijicheon had to flee. If he didn’t want to be buried under falling rocks, he had to run for his life.

**Collapse of the Phantom Demon Cave**

“Huff, huff, huff!”

Yong Cheon Myeong’s face was pale, devoid of any color, as he had just escaped from an illusion.

He felt extremely uneasy. Unconsciously, he found himself holding his sword.

The walls around him were covered in sword marks, indicating that he had been wildly swinging his sword in a frenzy, using every technique he knew.

‘You must exert all your skills to their utmost limits to safely pass this trial.’

Majinga’s speech suddenly came to mind.

Majinga had called it a trial, not a test. That alone hinted at the difficulty of this challenge. But he hadn’t expected it to be this intense.

Upon entering, he felt an unprecedented sense of gloom and unease. And there was real fear here. The fear he had felt moments ago still lingered. Even when he risked his life challenging the Seventy-Two Gates of Shaolin for honor and conviction, he had never felt such a threat and deep-seated fear. Yes, the feeling blooming in Yong Cheon Myeong’s chest, as if standing before a towering cliff, was unmistakably ‘fear.’ There was no other word to describe his current state. An invisible hand seemed to be targeting his life. Yong Cheon Myeong’s instincts were keenly aware of it.

“Damn it. Even when I broke through the Descent Gate of Shaolin, I wasn’t this scared… Damn it!”

For the first time in a long while, a curse slipped from his lips. It was a word he rarely used, indicating just how bad the situation was. But the problem was that no matter how bad the situation, he couldn’t afford to stop moving. The mere thought of people calling him a ‘coward’ was unbearable.

“Are these the shadows of the Heavenly Tribulation in my heart? To feel such fear from mere illusions I created, like a frog before a snake…”

Suddenly, he felt pathetic.

“I thought there were no rivals at my age… I still have much to learn! Still!”

He stroked his cherished sword, the Jade Buddha Divine Sword, once more. The Jade Buddha Divine Sword was a symbol of his honor, the responsibility he bore, and proof of his existence. He felt courage and resolve slowly rising within him again.

Yong Cheon Myeong, now emboldened, took a step forward, all the while remaining vigilant of the unseen enemies around him.

At that moment, a blinding sunlight pierced through the thick darkness of the cave, engulfing Yong Cheon Myeong in an instant.

It all happened so quickly. A white flash filled his vision! Then, a deafening explosion! And massive boulders, weighing thousands of pounds, began to rain down like hail!

Boom! Crash!

The violent explosion swept through the entire Phantom Demon Cave, dispelling all illusions in an instant. The massive explosion had distorted the entire formation spread throughout the cave.

“Aaah!”

Yoon Junho grimaced and collapsed to the ground, covering his ears. The sound, reflected off the narrow cave walls, was savage and brutal, tearing at his senses.

“Is it… an earthquake?”

Namgung Sang was equally bewildered.

“Sang!”

Jin Ryeong, beside him, instinctively clung to his arm. Feeling the danger, he held her tightly. If the cave collapsed, it was no exaggeration to say that the chances of survival for any disciple were zero. Everyone lay flat on the violently shaking ground, waiting for the tremors to subside.

Thud, thud, thud! Boom!

Rocks rained down incessantly from the black stone ceiling, mixed with large chunks of gravel.

Feeling the imminent danger of being buried alive, everyone began to run forward without hesitation.

“Kyaaah!”

“Miss!”

Hyo Ryong called out urgently to Lee Jinseol. She had been following him at a slight distance. The entire cave was shaking as if hit by an earthquake.

Crack!

Hyo Ryong’s eyes widened. A large crack appeared above Lee Jinseol’s head, as if drawn by a divine brush on rice paper. The cave ceiling was about to collapse. There was no time to evade.

“its Dangerous…!”

Sensing the danger, Hyo Ryong leaped towards Lee Jinseol without hesitation.

Boom!

A massive rock fell on top of them.

“Aaah!”

“Ugh!”

Both of them lost consciousness from the impact of the falling rocks.

Rumble!

The cave continued to shake violently.

As a white flash illuminated the darkness, Jang Hong heard someone scream.

“No! Miss Na!”

It was a cry as if someone was coughing up blood.

“That voice…?”

It was a man’s voice he had definitely heard somewhere before, but he couldn’t recall the face. Jang Hong couldn’t continue his thoughts. The situation wouldn’t allow it.

Boom!

“Huff!”

The fierce shockwave and storm that followed the explosion ravaged his entire body. He had to muster all his strength to withstand the violent storm.

“Aaah!”

“Help!”

“No, no!”

“Sob, sob!”

Desperate screams, groans, and cries echoed from all directions. The cave had turned into a literal hell of chaos and agony.

“This… this can’t be happening. This is impossible…”

Wijicheon, barely escaping the explosion’s range, was in shock. His appearance was a mess, torn and tattered.

“This… this can’t be real! This is a dream!”

He couldn’t have imagined that Na Yerin would run to save Bi Ryu Yeon upon seeing the thrown Thunder Bomb. Despite the imminent threat of the Thunder Bomb, which could explode at any moment, she ran to save Bi Ryu Yeon. Her actions were the worst-case scenario Wijicheon hadn’t anticipated.

Due to his mistake, his idol and everything, Na Yerin, was now buried in the explosion’s flash, her fate unknown. He fell into a state of madness.

“Aaah!”

He collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at his hands. These were the very hands that had manipulated the Flame Demon Thunder, the most powerful and dangerous explosive in the current martial world, without hesitation. His hands trembled violently, like those of a person with severe tremors.

Suddenly, blood began to flow from his hands, which he had been staring at blankly. The blood flowed endlessly, filling the ground and eventually rising to his head. Of course, the flood of blood was a hallucination visible only to him, reflecting his desperate state of mind.

“What… what have I done?”

But there was no one left to answer him.

Ding, ding, ding!

The sudden accident in the Phantom Demon Cave triggered an emergency throughout the entire academy. For the academy, it was like a bolt from the blue, an unexpected disaster. No one had anticipated such a major accident. The structure of the Phantom Demon Cave, which made search operations extremely difficult, was also a concern.

“Why is there such a commotion?”

Majinga asked as his aide, Jegal Nosa, came running.

“There’s been an accident.”

“An accident?”

“Yes, an accident.”

Majinga’s face darkened slightly.

“Are there casualties? If so, we were prepared for that. Isn’t this commotion a bit much?”

Of course, the loss of even one or two disciples was a heartbreaking matter, but it was something they had prepared for. His hands trembled, but he suppressed his weakness, not wanting to show it. He desperately wanted to be seen as a cold, composed leader.

He was not a ruler but a leader. As someone who stood above others, he had to bear the responsibilities and consequences of the situation. But this accident was far beyond his expectations.

“The accident is much bigger than you think, Sir.”

Jegal Nosa had to convey the unwelcome news. His face grew serious.

“What happened to cause such a fuss? This isn’t like you, always calm and composed.”

It was only natural.

“The Phantom Demon Cave has collapsed.”

Crack!

With just that one sentence, the expensive rosewood desk in front of Majinga became permanently unusable.

“What did you say? Is that true?”

Majinga shouted as he sprang to his feet. His face was filled with disbelief and shock. While good news could sometimes be misreported, bad news was almost never wrong. It seemed the gods of fate were stingy.

“It’s true. There was an accident in the Phantom Demon Cave, the test site for the Mount Hua Sect’s preliminary trials.”

Aide Jegal Nosa reported, panting heavily.

The shock swept through Majinga’s entire body, making him feel as if the world was collapsing. He staggered but managed to steady himself, not wanting to show weakness in front of his subordinate.

“What kind of accident could happen in that quiet place after 18 years?”

“An explosion.”

“What? An explosion? How could that be?”

It was unthinkable. Jegal Nosa’s eyes gleamed as sharply as his reason.

“It seems to be a deliberate act. Otherwise, there’s no way a thunder bomb would explode inside the Phantom Demon Cave. The Flame Demon Thunder is a highly secretive weapon, not something anyone can easily obtain.”

“I fully agree with you. So, who? Who dared to commit such an outrageous act at Cheonmu Academy? Who dared?”

A sinister thought crossed Majinga’s mind. Feeling a chill, he looked at Jegal Nosa. Judging by his face, Jegal Nosa seemed to have the same thought.

“Could it be… that those demons have awakened from the depths once again?”

His tone was deeply somber.

“It’s a possibility we can’t deny.”

Jegal Nosa nodded.

“Call an emergency meeting! Immediately start rescue operations for the children trapped in the Phantom Demon Cave and report any casualties!”

Following Majinga’s orders, Cheonmu Academy quickly sprang into action.

An emergency meeting was convened. Everyone had heard the news of the collapse of the Phantom Demon Cave, and their faces were grim. Various opinions were being exchanged, but everyone had one thing on their minds.

“So, do you also believe this is the work of the Feathered Ones?”

An elder named Neugihan stood up and asked.

“How many items in this world possess such explosive power?”

Majinga asked rhetorically, continuing without waiting for an answer. His tone was agitated.

“There are only two: the Thunder God’s Barrel , one of the Seven Forbidden Hidden Techniques of the Sichuan Tang Clan, and the ‘Flame Demon Thunder’ used by those damned Feathered Ones! But the Sichuan Tang Clan would never recklessly release one of the Seven Forbidden Hidden Techniques.”

“I’ll contact the main family immediately to check the inventory.”

Tang Jimyeong, a warrior from the Sichuan Tang Clan, stood up abruptly. The Seven Forbidden Hidden Techniques could only be taken out with the approval of the head of the family and the council of elders. A secret leak was unthinkable.

Checking and managing the inventory of the Seven Forbidden Hidden Techniques and the Seven Deadly Poisons was one of the head’s most important duties. It was something he had to do personally, without delegating it to anyone. But the possibility of a leak from the Sichuan Tang Clan was extremely slim. That left only one possibility!

“Surely not…”

Everyone present wanted to dismiss that possibility. They had hidden their identity for so long that people were starting to forget their name. And now, an incident had occurred that seemed to flaunt their continued existence.

“But there’s one more problem.”

Jegal Nosa cautiously began. But he hesitated, swallowing dryly, unable to easily get to the main point. It seemed he had a significant issue to discuss.

“What is it?”

Majinga prompted to get Jegal Nosa to speak. Jegal Nosa looked so anxious that it was almost pitiful. It was clear he had come with a difficult issue to convey. Jegal Nosa, though a strategist and tactician, was not good at hiding his emotions.

“Is there still more to trouble me?”

Majinga said with a self-deprecating smile.

“Indeed.”

Jegal Nosa did not smile.

“With the Phantom Demon Cave collapsed and casualties mounting, what could be worse? Just tell me. I don’t think anything could surprise me now.”

But as soon as Jegal Nosa opened his mouth, Majinga found himself breaking his own vow.

“What… what did you say? Is that true?”

Jegal Nosa nodded silently. Majinga felt as if the sky was collapsing.

“Is it true that the child is missing inside?”

Jegal Nosa carefully chose the word “missing,” but in this situation, the likelihood of death was very high.

“If this news reaches the Martial Alliance…”

Jegal Nosa seemed worried.

“It’s only a matter of time. So…”

“It won’t end quietly.”

The Martial Alliance Leader Na Baekcheon was well-known for his doting love for his daughter. No matter how old a friendship, if something happened to his daughter, he would not remain silent. Normally dignified and full of authority, Na Baekcheon would change completely when it came to Na Yerin. Imagining Na Baekcheon’s reaction upon hearing the news made Majinga shiver with a chill.

“There’s one more problem.”

Jegal Nosa still had more to say. Majinga feared what might come next.

“What is it?”

“The issue is… who will inform the Martial Alliance Leader?”

Majinga suddenly realized the gravity of the situation and frowned deeply.

‘Damn, I forgot that crucial task!’

Majinga felt a surge of self-loathing. How could he have forgotten such an important matter?

“It’s best to inform him through a personal messenger before he hears it from other sources. There’s no point in hiding it; it won’t solve anything.”

It was a matter that required serious consideration. Jegal Nosa continued.

“And we need to think about who will calm his anger. The Martial Alliance Leader’s love for his daughter is well-known in the martial world. If he learns that his precious daughter was a victim of the Feathered Ones’ plot, he won’t remain calm.”

“You’re right. Hiding it won’t solve anything. The only issue is who will go and calm his anger.”

“Indeed. Given his temperament, he might draw his sword without hesitation.”

Majinga nodded.

“Now is not the time.”

Jegal Nosa maintained his composure despite the situation. Majinga accepted his opinion. However, he didn’t believe he could calm the Martial Alliance Leader’s anger on his own.

“This is the first large-scale accident in nearly 30 years. Issue an order to strengthen vigilance at all branches and focus on gathering information.”

“Understood!”

The elders gathered in Cheonmu Hall agreed with Majinga’s swift and appropriate measures for handling the accident. However, the issue of sending a messenger to Na Baekcheon was not something Majinga could easily decide.

There were many other issues he needed to address.

“And quickly compile a list of the casualties and missing persons and report it in writing!”

That was one of the most urgent tasks.