Return of the Mount Hua

What has happened? (3)

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Drip. Drip.

The sound of water droplets falling echoed sharply.

Im Sobyeong looked up. Water gathered at the edge of the rocks protruding from the ceiling, dripping down in droplets.

‘Where in the world…’

His gaze returned downward.

It was so dark that he couldn’t see a hand in front of his face. The darkness was so thick that unless you are someone skilled in martial arts, like Im Sobyeong, you wouldn’t dare to take a step. The only faintly visible thing was a narrow, elongated path stretching into the distance.

‘A cave… No, a tunnel?’

The tunnel they had passed through extended behind them.

He was still baffled by how they had ended up here. His mind was in turmoil.

“Cough.”

At that moment, Chung Myung, who was walking ahead, coughed violently and bent over. Each movement caused dried blood to flake off his body.

Im Sobyeong hardened his expression and spoke up,

“Dojang…”

“It’s fine.”

But Chung Myung lifted his head again as if it were of no consequence and continued forward.

A sigh escaped from Im Sobyeong’s lips. Despite being offered assistance, Chung Myung insisted on walking on his own like that. Who could break that stubbornness?

After silently following behind for a while, Im Sobyeong finally couldn’t hold back and asked.

“Dojang… Where are we?”

“A cave.”

“What?”

“Don’t you see? It’s a cave.”

Im Sobyeong’s face twisted slightly.

“No, that’s not what I’m asking, is it? What kind of cave is this?”

Even as he spoke, he felt that the question itself was quite absurd. A cave was a cave, what other purpose could it have?

But in reality, the question was quite valid.

Im Sobyeong scanned the walls of the cave.

No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem like a naturally formed cave. It was rough, but it seemed like human hands had been involved in its creation.

‘A cave this size, made by people?’

Why? For what reason?

At that moment, Chung Myung’s voice echoed softly.

“Do you know where this is?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“At the edge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.”

Im Sobyeong’s eyes narrowed slightly. What did that mean…?

“Most people seem to think that the war against Demonic Cult was a battle over a single peak, but in reality, thousands of battles have taken place in the southern part of the Central Plains over the years. Over several years.”

“…”

“The place where the most battles took place isn’t at the center of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. But on the way to get there.”

“So, here is…”

“Yeah.”

Chung Myung answered in a cool voice.

“It’s one of the hideouts they dug.”

Im Sobyeong looked around with a stern expression.

‘A place like this…’

The Hundred Thousand Mountains themselves were a sanctuary with heavenly terrain. But who would have imagined digging such tunnels in a mountain like this?

However, Im Sobyeong had a separate reason for being truly shocked.

From the perspective of a strategist, there was nothing more chilling than this tunnel. The mountain was already difficult enough to predict where the enemy might emerge from.

But the existence of such caves implied that the enemy could emerge from anywhere.

‘How on earth did they deal with such enemies?’

As the images of the Demonic Cult from Hangzhou merged with this terrain in his mind, a shiver ran down his spine. The past wars, which he had only vaguely imagined as brutal, now vividly unfolded before him.

Moreover, despite the passage of so much time, there was still a lingering smell of blood in this chilly cave.

“If there’s one here, are there others besides this?”

“It’s possible.”

A laugh escaped from Im Sobyeong’s lips. However, before his thoughts could wander too far, they came upon a three-way fork in the path.

“Uh…”

Everyone faces the same dilemma when confronted with a fork in the road in an unfamiliar place – they inevitably stand there, lost in thought.

But Chung Myung entered the left path without a moment’s hesitation, as if he already knew this place.

Im Sobyeong squinted slightly, expressing his curiosity.

“Why this way…?”

“A wall.”

“…A wall?”

At the dry reply, Im Sobyeong examined the wall Chung Myung mentioned.

“Oh…”

And soon enough, he understood the significance. The left path’s wall bore marks that hadn’t been visible before – jumbled traces as if a giant beast had clawed at it with sharp claws. It was clearly the marks of multiple weapons scraping against the wall during battle.

‘Was there a battle here?’

Even in this deep tunnel?

Thunk!

Suddenly, Im Sobyeong felt something under his foot and flinched.

As he confirmed the object, Im Sobyeong’s complexion paled slightly. What he had stepped on was the bleached bones of a human.

“…Bodies…”

From behind him, a constant groaning sound emanated as if someone were in constant agony.

The narrow tunnel floor was strewn with bodies. Corpses that had rotted away over time, leaving nothing but bones. It was a sight similar to what they had seen when they descended through the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

“…Pine Pattern Ancient Sword [송문고검(松紋古劍) – songmun-gogeom.”

“Wudang, perhaps…”

For a moment, silence fell after someone’s remark.

In the deep underground where not a single ray of light penetrated, this narrow tunnel witnessed the deadly struggles between Demonic Cult and the disciples of Just Sects.

It was clear that orthodox martial artists unable to withstand the guerrilla warfare of their enemies had risked their lives by venturing into this perilous terrain.

“Dojang.”

As the disciples of Haenam shuddered in horror, the gaze of the disciples of Hwasan and Im Sobyeong were fixed solely on Chung Myung.

“Dojang… So, did you know that there was an entrance to this tunnel at that place?”

“Uh.”

“…Then, did you also know in advance that Ho Gamyeong would lead us to that entrance?”

Chung Myung slowly nodded.

“Well, he’s that kind of person.”

Im Sobyeong was momentarily speechless.

“Then, did you perhaps know that I would be lured into that dead end by Ho Gamyeong’s hand?”

“No.”

“…No? Then…”

“It was just a precaution.”

Chung Myung answered without even turning his head. It was unclear whether he didn’t feel the need to meet Im Sobyeong’s gaze or if he lacked the strength to turn his head.

“If you didn’t get involved, that’s good. But even if you get caught up, you have to find a way out.”

“…”

“The moment we broke through the gorge, the path was already open.”

Im Sobyeong stared blankly at Chung Myung, at a loss for words. He had been completely defeated by Ho Gamyeong. Whether he had paid the price for his arrogance remained uncertain.

His opponent in this game of wits was supposed to be Jang Ilso, not Ho Gamyeong. So, in reality, Ho Gamyeong had never been a concern for him.

Whatever the reason, it was certain that he had been thoroughly defeated by Ho Gamyeong in this battle of strategy.

However, in the end, who emerged victorious was of little importance. All battles were unfolding on the palm of Chung Myung’s hand.

‘What the hell is this person…?’

Im Sobyeong now seemed to understand Ho Gamyeong’s mindset. Why he didn’t include Jang Ilso in his range of schemes.

If a strategy, crafted with effort and diligence, could only end up being manipulated in someone else’s hands, wouldn’t anyone feel the same?

As Im Sobyeong grappled with overwhelming helplessness and despair, Baek Cheon spoke up.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

Chung Myung remained silent, but Baek Cheon didn’t hesitate to ask.

“Then how did you know there was an entrance to this place there?”

The words prompted some of Hwasan’s disciples to flinch, exchanging looks between Baek Cheon and Chung Myung.

It wasn’t just once or twice. Chung Myung had consistently surprised everyone by revealing information they couldn’t even guess at. But until now, no one had felt the need to inquire about that fact. No one dared to ask, given his unpredictable nature. It was an unspoken rule regarding Chung Myung in Hwasan.

Yet now, it seemed Baek Cheon was no longer willing to abide by that rule, as he pressed on with the most sensitive question without hesitation.

“Answer me.”

Baek Cheon urged, showing no intention of letting Chung Myung’s silence slide this time.

After a moment, Chung Myung spoke, but his words seemed somewhat unexpected.

“Do you know why did Nokrim King got caught by Ho Gamyeong?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Because he didn’t know.”

Baek Cheon looked at Im Sobyeong with a puzzled expression. Im Sobyeong’s face remained rigid. His smile had vanished, giving way to a chilling demeanor.

“If he knew there was such terrain, he would never have ventured in on his own. Fighting in an unfamiliar place is like that. There are tremendous advantages that can’t be guessed until experienced.”

Baek Cheon nodded slightly at Chung Myung’s words. Even if he set aside whether it was an appropriate answer to the question, his words resonated deeply throughout their journey. Looking at it from a different perspective made it clear.

When someone first arrives at Hwasan, they climb the mountain to attack it? Baek Cheon could count on one hand the number of terrains that would drive them to hell. That’s the treacherous terrain that would make the enemies perish.

“But here’s the thing. If you know about it, you can guess their moves. Especially if they think I don’t know about that terrain.”

“…”

“Nokrim King didn’t know about this place, and Ho Gamyeong didn’t know that I knew about it. That’s why they fell victim.”

Baek Cheon stared at Chung Myunf’s back with hard eyes.

“War isn’t just determined by brute force. Well, wielding a sword isn’t the only form of power. Anything that can overwhelm the opponent is power.”

Chung Myung slowly turned to Baek Cheon. His gaze, visible through the blood-matted hair, was chilling.

“How did I know?”

“…”

“It’s not ‘how.’ I knew. That’s why I went there. No matter how much that fool thought he had it all figured out, I knew more about Guangdong than he did.”

“That’s…”

“How could you possibly know more?”

Chung Myung’s lips twisted slightly.

“How would you think I knew?”

Baek Cheon felt a rush of emotion, as if he wanted to speak up louder. But before he could, someone tugged at his sleeve.

Turning, he saw Yu Iseol, who had just regained consciousness, gripping his sleeve tightly.

Covered in blood, she slowly shook her head, signaling him not to ask further.

Before Baek Cheon could say anything more, he noticed a change in the sound of Chung Myung’s footsteps.

The narrow and long tunnel had come to an end. As they emerged, an expansive space unfolded before them, almost unbelievably vast for an underground area.

“Even if they find the entrance, it’ll take them at least two days. Rest up until then, with all your might.”

Chung Myung left these words with a pitchless voice before slumping forward.

“Ch-”

Before anyone could respond, Baek Cheon swiftly moved to catch Chung Myung as he collapsed. He looked down at Chung Myung’s unconscious face, exhaling deeply.

“…You damn bastard.”

His voice spread slowly through the vast space.

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