Chapter v13v12

Seop Un-myeong, the Sword Maniac, stood frozen like a statue, staring intently at the dragonfly perched on his palm, its wings folded.

“This is unbelievable!”

He tried to convince himself, but it was difficult.

‘He’s already achieved a level that took me sixty years to reach, at such a young age?’

The dragonfly was motionless, as if time had stopped around it. It didn’t even seem alive.

‘Is he a monster? Or…’

Crack!

The dragonfly, frozen in time on his palm, suddenly split in two, cleanly severed from head to tail. The cut was as smooth as a mirror.

* * *

They continued their journey through the forest. The mountain was changing into its autumn colors, a beautiful tapestry of reds, yellows, and oranges. But there was one thing missing.

It wasn’t the season for plum blossoms, the pride of Mount Hua. Yi Jin-seol seemed disappointed.

“But I heard there’s a secret valley somewhere on Mount Hua where plum blossoms bloom all year round. They say its beauty is beyond words, its fragrance so intoxicating that it can numb the mind, and that it’s inhabited by the spirit of the plum blossom!”

Jo Cheon-u laughed and replied,

“Hahaha! I’ve only heard rumors and legends. I’ve never seen such a place. Every mountain has its own mystical legends.”

At that moment, Yoon Jun-ho shuddered, feeling a chill run down his spine. Goosebumps erupted on his skin.

“C-Could it be…?”

A delicate fragrance tickled his nose. It might be pleasant to others, but to Yoon Jun-ho, it was as terrifying as poison.

‘But it’s not the season yet…’

The golden autumn sun was still warm. It was too early for plum blossoms to bloom.

Red Plum Valley, they had called it. That was the name Seop Un-myeong had given to their destination.

Red Plum Valley…

He suddenly remembered a story his grandmaster had told him. A mystical place where plum blossoms bloomed all year round. It was also called Red Plum Valley.

He had thought it was just a story…

The scent Yoon Jun-ho smelled! It was definitely the fragrance of plum blossoms, which shouldn’t be blooming yet.

**The Underground Prison**

A damp, dark underground chamber.

A thick, cold iron door covered in moss.

A key was inserted into a rusty lock.

The air was thick with the stench of mold and decay, damp and heavy, making them frown.

It was a prison, impenetrable, requiring a complex process even for a single visit. But it was no obstacle to the old man.

The dark, copper key turned in the lock.

Click!

The lock clicked open.

Creak!

The hinges groaned as the heavy iron door slowly opened.

“Please enter.”

The warden bowed respectfully. He didn’t know the old man’s identity, but the document he had brought bore the seal of someone far above his station.

The Golden Horse Prison! A prison from which it was easy to enter, but difficult to leave. One of its cells had just been opened.

“Who is it?”

Gu Cheon-hak, the former leader of the Iron Cavalry Of Death, asked without looking up. But the visitor didn’t answer, just stared at him.

The warden lit a torch in the cell. Gu Cheon-hak, who had been shrouded in darkness for a long time, squinted, his eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness.

“Thank you. You may leave us.”

The warden bowed and left at the old man’s gesture.

“…”

A brief silence, like a whisper of wind. Gu Cheon-hak, who had been sitting cross-legged on the hard, cold iron bed, finally looked up at his visitor.

He had recognized the warden’s voice, even though it had been brief. It was rare to hear such a respectful tone from a warden in the Golden Horse Prison.

He saw a gray beard reaching the man’s chest. His gaze traveled upwards. He finally recognized his visitor.

“Who are you…?”

He had never seen this man before.

The old man chuckled.

“Do you recognize me now?”

He swiped his right hand across his face.

Gu Cheon-hak almost snapped the chopsticks he had been using as eating utensils. His eyes widened.

Thud!

He scrambled off the bed, rolled to the floor, and prostrated himself, his forehead touching the cold stone.

The old man ignored him, his gaze sweeping across the cell, as if seeing through the darkness.

The walls of the cell were even more densely covered in writing than when Chi Sa-han had visited. The old man nodded, a satisfied smile on his lips.

“Your skills have improved.”

“I-It’s an honor! Great One!”

Gu Cheon-hak replied, his voice trembling with emotion. It was absurd, ridiculous, but his vision blurred with tears.

Gu Cheon-hak, the former leader of the Iron Cavalry Of Death, one of the most powerful martial arts groups in the Black Heaven Alliance, a man known for his ruthlessness, was shedding tears… It was unthinkable. But it was happening.

“Haha, it seems to be raining!”

Rain in an underground cell? But Gu Cheon-hak understood. It was a considerate gesture, pretending not to see his tears.

“It’s been a while.”

The old man’s voice was stern, but kind. He looked ageless, his face unmarred by wrinkles.

“It’s been ten years since I last saw you.”

“Has it been that long…?”

The old man was his idol, his sun. If it hadn’t been for him, Gu Cheon-hak wouldn’t be where he was today, the former leader of the Iron Cavalry Of Death. The old man’s teachings had earned him his position.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“A favor…?”

It was strange to hear the old man, a man of absolute power, practically a god, asking for a favor. He could simply give an order, and it would be carried out immediately. But Gu Cheon-hak didn’t have the right to question him. He only had the duty to obey.

“Just give the order. I’ll carry it out with my life!”

He bowed deeply, his forehead touching the cold stone floor.

“There’s a place you need to go.”

The old man stated his purpose simply. His demeanor was calm and composed, but Gu Cheon-hak was anything but. His face contorted, his expression shifting rapidly.

He knew what he was feeling. And he knew how to resolve it. He had realized that this feeling wouldn’t go away until he settled things with “that man”!

And… the opportunity had arrived.

“…Can you do it?”

The old man asked, having stated his request. Gu Cheon-hak prostrated himself again, his entire body expressing his respect and admiration.

“I accept your order!”

It was a short sentence, but it contained his unwavering resolve.

The old man nodded, a benevolent smile on his face.

“You’re free to go.”

He declared. And then,

“Excuse me, but I have a request.”

Gu Cheon-hak’s face was serious.

“What is it? Do you need anything? I’ll provide you with everything you need.”

Gu Cheon-hak hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice firm.

“May I… take these chopsticks with me?”

The old man looked at the chopsticks, then at Gu Cheon-hak’s face, and a smile spread across his lips. He burst into laughter.

Gu Cheon-hak blushed, embarrassed.

Visitor: None

Inmate: None

Released: None

There was no official record of the incident in the Golden Horse Prison logbook.

It had happened a week before the Cheonmu Academy delegation departed, in the Black Heaven Alliance’s Golden Horse Prison.