The Divine Thief’s Hidden Cavern
The mountain where the Divine Thief was sleeping.
Countless martial artists were climbing the mountain, and even more were approaching it than those already ascending.
Tang So-mi and her escorting warriors were stationed in Ganyanghyeon, where Zhang Bodo had first spread. Since they had moved quickly, there were fewer competitors. However, as ti passed, the number of martial artists climbing the mountain increased exponentially.
Of course, among the nurous people, there were also many who sought fortune or serendipitous encounters.
“From here on, you must have the permission of the Four Heroes of Sichuan to pass!”
Among them, there were also several experts who were quite renowned in Sichuan.
“By what right do you block this place?”
As the four who called themselves the Four Heroes of Sichuan blocked the entrance to the Divine Thief’s cave, so began to raise their voices against their tyranny.
Normally, they would have bowed their heads just by eting their eyes, but with so many martial artists gathered, they judged that the Four Heroes of Sichuan could not act recklessly.
However, no one dared to easily challenge the Four Heroes of Sichuan.
Everyone knew that if they joined forces, they could kill those four, but no one wanted to sacrifice their life in the process.
Thus, so were exchanging quick glances at that mont. Rather, exchanging glances was just a visible act.
Amidst the chaos, they were secretly communicating and forming alliances and breakups.
They were looking for trustworthy individuals based on their skills and character, or those who could be betrayed at the last mont.
And what broke the chaos was not a new group but a single strong man.
“Hah! These frogs in a well don’t seem to know the value of their lives.”
A figure clad in black from head to toe stepped forward, speaking in a raspy voice.
“You must be the one who wants to die!”
The youngest of the Four Heroes of Sichuan shouted boldly and charged at the figure in black.
Slice!
With a single strike, too quick to see, five red lines were drawn in the air.
Along those lines, the youngest one’s body was split apart.
“Black Claw Blood Demon!”
Imdiately after, soone who recognized the figure’s identity muttered in a horrified voice.
They inferred it from the black iron claws and the red energy on the figure’s arm, which were revealed after the martial art was displayed.
“Hah, I’m glad there are still people who rember my nickna.”
As the black-clad figure pulled back his hood, the face of an elderly man with half-white hair was revealed.
The Black Claw Blood Demon. An infamous villain known for his capricious temper and nurous killings in the past.
Because of his eccentric nature, he couldn’t establish a proper force and was hunted as a public enemy by several sects, leading to his disappearance twenty years ago.
Everyone was equally shocked to see such a person suddenly appear here.
“Do you want to follow your brother’s fate?”
As the Black Claw Blood Demon threatened the remaining three of the Four Heroes of Sichuan with his iron claws, they stepped aside in fright.
“Hah, what beautiful brotherhood.”
Laughing at the three, the Black Claw Blood Demon entered the cave first, followed by so who had been hesitating.
With one less person, and possibly due to the death of their sworn brother, the remaining mbers of the Four Heroes of Sichuan did not try to block others as before.
Of course, it wasn’t long before new people tried to control the entrance.
Several tis, new figures or groups would break through, only to be replaced by others trying to block the entrance.
“Make way!”
After so ti, a group of people, unlike any before, began appearing at the entrance to the Divine Thief’s cave.
First, dozens of Daoists appeared, followed by martial artists in green uniforms. After them, dozens of nuns arrived one after another.
It was the Qingcheng Sect, the Sichuan Tang Clan, and the Ei Sect.
Elder Dang Taeryeong, who led the Sichuan Tang Clan warriors, quickly scanned the area as soon as they arrived at the entrance.
‘So-mi must have already gone in.’
Despite inwardly cursing, he maintained a cold expression outwardly.
Their primary goal was not to retrieve the treasure from the Divine Thief’s cave but to ensure Tang So-mi’s safety.
“Does the Tang Clan have an interest in this place as well?”
At that mont, soone from the Qingcheng Sect spoke to them first.
“Since we are materialistic beings involved in the mundane world, we can’t miss out on such events. But I never imagined seeing Daoists and nuns in front of a thief’s grave.”
Dang Taeryeong lowered their own status while fiercely putting down the other party.
“Ahem. We are here to prevent bloodshed.”
“Amitabha. As the Qingcheng Sect elder, Master Cheongpung said, we cannot allow innocent blood to be shed here.”
When the Ei Sect elder, Master Myeoljeol, echoed the words of the Qingcheng Sect elder, Master Cheongpung, Dang Taeryeong’s eyebrows twitched montarily.
‘These guys?’
Dang Taeryeong imdiately realized that the Ei Sect and Qingcheng Sect had joined hands for this event.
“Then, please prevent the bloodshed here. We will proceed inside.”
However, the most important thing now was ensuring Tang So-mi’s safety. Without showing any impatience, Dang Taeryeong spoke in a blunt tone and stepped toward the entrance of the cave.
“Stop! Your actions will only lead to more deaths!”
“If you move any further, we will not stand by. Amitabha.”
Naturally, the Qingcheng Sect and Ei Sect would not just let it happen.
“If you block the entrance, there won’t be any bloodshed. Otherwise, just co in with us.”
Since the treasure was not their primary goal, Dang Taeryeong said this and entered the cave.
The Qingcheng Sect and Ei Sect elders looked at each other in bewildernt for a mont.
“Ahem.”
“Ahem. Let’s go in.”
Following the Tang Clan, the Qingcheng Sect and Ei Sect also entered the cave.
* * *
“Shall we get going again?”
As everyone in the group, who had been sitting cross-legged, opened their eyes, Mu-jin, who had been standing guard, spoke lightly.
Unlike Mu-jin, who practiced active cultivation, the others needed to recover their internal energy through the Qi Conducting Technique.
Of course, Mu-jin also recovered his internal energy faster when he sat cross-legged and used the Qi Conducting Technique.
But in a place full of traps like this, soone needed to stand guard, and since he could practice active cultivation, he took on the guard duty.
Mu-gyeong, who was getting up after finishing the Qi Conducting Technique, stretched his stiff body and spoke.
“Phew. This place is much more dangerous than I thought.”
“If the Zhang Bodo that Master Mu-jin ntioned had spread here, there would have been great bloodshed in Sichuan. Infinite life to Buddha.”
“It’s a good thing we organized in advance.”
Cheongsu Dojang added a comnt that sounded unusually sage-like, and Mu-gung emphasized the word ‘we’ with a proud expression on his face.
“Well, it’s certainly fortunate.”
Mu-jin could only shrug in response to Mu-gung’s antics, acting like he was enjoying playing the role of a ‘martial artist’ while searching for Zhang Bodo and exploring the Bi-dong.
‘They’re all so naive.’
While the group was awed by the traps in the area, Mu-jin thought the true danger of the Divine Thief Bi-dong lay not in the traps themselves, but in human greed.
They were relaxed because they had co to this place alone. But what if crowds of people had rushed in, especially hundreds or thousands of martial artists, driven mad by the thought of treasure?
‘There’d be no ti for Qi Conducting Techniques.’
Not just Qi Conducting Techniques, but they’d also have to constantly watch their backs to avoid ambushes.
The very people entering Bi-dong would beco another kind of trap.
‘It’s a good thing we ca to Sichuan before news of Zhang Bodo spread.’
Exploring Bi-dong without the worry of being pursued made for a very pleasant environnt.
“Let’s quickly gather everything before others find this place.”
With those words, Mu-jin enveloped himself in the Golden Turtle Technique, smashing through traps as he advanced.
After passing a dozen traps and two branching paths,
“Wow…”
“It’s sparkling!”
“Ooh! Ooh ooh!”
“Is that the legendary Night Pearl?”
They arrived at a place filled with treasure.
The walls were embedded with Night Pearls, illuminating the interior. On one side, there was a bookshelf with several volus of books.
Additionally, there were weapon racks displaying various weapons, and several chests scattered on the floor.
Fearing there might be one final trap, Mu-jin approached the chests while maintaining the Golden Turtle Technique.
Click.
As Mu-jin opened a chest, it revealed a dazzling array of gold and silver treasures, reflecting the light of the Night Pearls.
“It’s shining! It’s shining!”
“Ooh! Ooh ooh!”
“Whoa!”
Mu-yul, Ling-ling, and Mu-gung were srized by the brilliant sight.
“Hmmm.”
anwhile, Mu-gyeong was examining what appeared to be martial arts manuals on the bookshelf.
“…”
Cheongsu Dojang, with a dazed look in his eyes, was ticulously inspecting the famous swords displayed on the racks, as if he had fallen in love at first sight.
In contrast, Mu-jin was contemplating the most practical issue: how to transport all these treasures.
‘Should we have brought a wagon? No, if we were unlucky, the wagon might have been destroyed by the traps. But now that we’ve cleared the path, should I go to Gan-yang-hyeon to fetch a wagon? Or should we carry the treasures out by making multiple trips?’
While everyone was imrsed in their own ways of appreciating the treasure,
“Ooh!”
Suddenly, Ling-ling, perched on Mu-yul’s head, started barking and waving its arms.
“Mu-jin, Ling-ling says she hears sothing.”
“A sound?”
Tilting his head, Mu-jin enhanced his hearing with his internal energy.
Given how Ling-ling had guided them so far and its superior senses as a spiritual creature, Mu-jin trusted its abilities.
Focusing his hearing, he heard a faint noise, as Ling-ling had indicated.
It wasn’t a natural sound like the wind. It was faint, but it definitely sounded tallic.
‘Why would there be a tallic sound?’
They had burned Zhang Bodo, and they had entered Bi-dong secretly at dawn. There should be no one following them, so why was there a tallic sound?
“Let’s check it out.”
Feeling uneasy, Mu-jin led the group back through the path they had cleared.
Passing through the narrow paths with destroyed traps and the caverns with multiple branches, they retraced their steps.
Before long, they arrived at a cavern with five branching paths.
What they saw there was:
“Ugh.”
“Miss! Take cover!”
“Hand over the treasure!!”
Two groups of people wielding weapons, attacking each other to kill.
It was already surprising enough that soone had followed them into Bi-dong, which should have been empty.
“Uh?”
“Is that Tang So-mi Shiju-nim?”
Among them was a very familiar figure, though her hair was disheveled and her clothes tattered from whatever ordeal she had faced.
“Shh. We’re in disguise right now.”
Mu-jin quickly warned the group, recognizing Tang So-mi, but he was just as taken aback.
In disguise and not wanting to get involved with the Tang Clan, Mu-jin was torn about whether to help them or not.
Just as Mu-jin was deep in thought,
“There are new ones over there!”
“They ca from the inside!!”
The warriors who had been pressing Tang So-mi and her bodyguard noticed Mu-jin’s group hiding in the branches.
“They might have the treasure!”
Seeing Mu-jin’s group as potential treasure holders, they turned their greedy eyes on them.
“Finish off that Tang Clan wench and her guard. I’ll handle these newcors.”
A bald old man wielding a black iron claw, who had been standing at the rear, started approaching Mu-jin’s group.
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