Saat pintu terbuka, semburan udara tua meledak keluar.
Terasa seperti ruangan itu akhirnya menghembuskan napas yang telah lama ditahannya.
Koridor panjang samar terlihat dalam kegelapan.
Menggunakan New Eye Technique, Geom Mugeuk mengintip ke dalam dan melihat bahwa dinding di kedua sisi koridor juga diukir dengan berbagai pola, huruf, dan lukisan, sama seperti yang ada di pintu.
Seolah terukir di dalam usus, kegelapan menelan semuanya dan memancarkan energi yang tidak diketahui, memikat mereka yang melihat.
Masuklah, cepat masuk.
Masuk, dan kau akan mati.
Namun meski ada peringatan naluriah itu, Geom Mugeuk merasa dia harus melangkah masuk.
Itu bukan rasa menantang atau kegembiraan menghadapi ketakutan akan hal yang tidak diketahui.
Setibanya di Golden Dragon Martial Hall, bertemu dengan Sword King, dan mengingat bagaimana Sword King menyuruhnya turun ke sini—Geom Mugeuk merasa semuanya adalah tarikan takdir.
"Apakah kau merasakannya?"
Mendengar pertanyaan Geom Mugeuk, Sword King mengangguk.
Tepat pada saat itu, salah satu pejabat mulai berjalan maju seolah terhipnotis. Dia melewati Geom Mugeuk dan Sword King, mencoba melangkah masuk, tetapi Hong In bergegas masuk dan menangkapnya.
"Sadarlah!"
Hong In menampar wajahnya tanpa ampun. Baru saat itulah pria itu tersadar.
Kegelapan telah merayunya untuk masuk. Dia adalah yang terlemah dalam energi internal dan kekuatan mental di antara para pejabat, dan karena itu yang pertama jatuh pada bujukan itu.
Segera setelah itu, pejabat lain juga mulai bergerak maju, tetapi orang di sampingnya berhasil menahannya, menyadarkannya.
Geom Mugeuk mengirim transmisi suara ke Sword King.
Dia memiliki firasat kuat bahwa jika orang-orang ini masuk, mereka tidak akan selamat.
―Bagaimana kalau kita masuk berdua saja?
Dia pikir Sword King akan langsung setuju, tetapi keputusan itu tidak segera datang.
Geom Mugeuk tidak mencoba memprovokasi dia dengan kata-kata seperti—
Dia percaya keraguan Sword King bukan karena dia berencana membawa mereka ke kematian, tetapi karena alasan lain.
Bagaimanapun juga, dia bisa merasakan kepedulian pria itu terhadap mereka. Jika tidak demikian, dia tidak akan menunjukkan bintang-bintang kepada mereka.
Memang benar, keraguan Sword King adalah demi para pejabat.
―Aku ingin menunjukkan kepada mereka tempat terakhir itu.
Geom Mugeuk, bagaimanapun, tidak percaya bahwa membawa mereka ke dalam kegelapan yang tidak menyenangkan itu adalah pilihan yang tepat.
―Apa yang akan mereka lihat di sana tidak akan membantu mereka menjalani hidup ke depan. Kecuali jika kau berniat berbagi harta karun dengan mereka. Benarkah?
Sword King menggelengkan kepalanya.
Ketika Sword King memberikan perintah transmisi suara kepada spesialis mekanik, pria itu berlari ke suatu tempat.
"Misi kalian berakhir di sini."
Para pejabat terkejut mendengar kata-kata itu. Mereka telah merasakan bahwa penggalian akan segera berakhir, tetapi mereka tidak menyangka akan berakhir dengan terbukanya pintu itu. Mereka mengira masih harus masuk dan membongkar lebih banyak mekanisme.
Namun mereka bisa merasakannya—bahaya yang mengintai di balik kegelapan pintu itu. Menyaksikan rekan-rekan mereka berjalan maju seolah terhipnotis sudah cukup untuk memberi tahu mereka. Jika godaan di pintu masuk saja sudah sekuat ini, kengerian apa yang menunggu di dalam?
Sekarang setelah benar-benar berakhir, gelombang emosi melanda mereka. Keterkejutan memberi jalan pada kelegaan. Tetapi pada akhirnya, yang mendominasi hati mereka adalah ketakutan.
Pada saat itu, spesialis mekanik yang menerima perintah itu kembali dan menyerahkan amplop kepada semua orang. Di dalamnya ada slip penukaran uang yang dijanjikan.
Awalnya, para pejabat menerima gaji mereka setiap bulan. Jika seseorang membutuhkannya dikirim ke tempat lain, itu akan dikirim atas nama mereka. Mereka telah mengumpulkan uang dengan rajin, takut mereka mungkin tidak dibayar nanti—tetapi karena mereka tidak bisa pergi juga, memegangnya telah kehilangan makna.
Itulah sebabnya para pejabat meminta Sword King untuk memberi mereka pembayaran saat keberangkatan—dan sekarang, dia benar-benar menepati janji itu.
Saat mereka melihat uang itu, semua pejabat diliputi emosi. Bagaimanapun juga, inilah yang mereka pertaruhkan segalanya—untuk mendapatkan uang itu.
Mendengar kata-kata Sword King, air mata menggenang di mata beberapa pejabat. Cobaan yang panjang dan mengerikan ini akhirnya berakhir.
Tentu saja, banyak yang masih memiliki keinginan untuk pergi lebih jauh melewati pintu itu. Harta karun macam apa yang harus disembunyikan di sana untuk membutuhkan mekanisme yang begitu rumit?
Dan di luar itu, ada harapan tipis. Mungkinkah mereka bisa mendapatkan hanya sepotong kecil dari harta karun itu?
Tetapi melihat rekan-rekan pejabat mereka menyerah pada bujukan kegelapan, pikiran-pikiran itu lenyap. Yang mereka inginkan sekarang hanyalah meninggalkan tempat yang mengerikan ini.
Mereka berkumpul di depan Sword King untuk perpisahan terakhir. Di antara mereka ada yang nyawanya pernah dia selamatkan lebih dari sekali.
Berbicara atas nama semua orang, Hong In berbicara kepada Sword King.
"Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya untuk semuanya."
Para pejabat di belakangnya mengangkat suara mereka serempak, mengungkapkan rasa terima kasih mereka.
"Berbahagialah. Aku harap suatu hari nanti aku bisa mengunjungi aula seni bela diri yang akan kau jalankan."
Sword King tidak melupakan bahwa mimpinya adalah membuka aula seni bela diri.
Hong In membungkuk hormat.
"Aku tidak akan pernah melupakan kebaikan yang telah kau tunjukkan padaku."
"Apa yang terjadi di sini—jaga rahasia ini. Jika bukan oleh tanganku, kau akan mati di tangan orang-orang serakah. Katakan saja uang itu diwariskan kepadamu."
Mereka semua mengerti persis apa yang dia maksud dengan kata-kata itu, dan karena itu mereka mengangguk.
Sebuah transmisi suara dari Geom Mugeuk terbang ke arah Sword King.
―Belum pernah bertemu penjahat seperti ini sebelumnya.
Apakah karena para pejabat masuk melalui pintu itu dan semuanya mati? Atau karena mereka diizinkan pergi, dan yang mengejutkan, semuanya selamat sambil menjaga rahasia itu? Atau apakah ada alasan lain?
Apapun masalahnya, dalam kehidupan ini, mereka semua selamat. Beberapa orang mungkin meremehkan mereka, mengatakan mereka mempertaruhkan nyawa demi uang, tetapi Geom Mugeuk tidak melihatnya seperti itu. Mereka adalah penyintas yang berani.
Sebelum pergi, Hong In menoleh sekali lagi untuk melihat Geom Mugeuk—orang yang telah menyelamatkan mereka dari mekanisme jebakan. Apakah karena dia percaya malam di bawah bintang-bintang dan selimut hangat itu dimungkinkan berkat pendatang baru ini? Mungkin kehadiran pendatang baru inilah yang membuat kepulangan mereka yang aman menjadi mungkin.
Hong In membungkuk hormat kepada Geom Mugeuk. Ketika dia mengangkat kepalanya, dia melontarkan satu lelucon terakhir. Itu awalnya ditujukan untuk Sword King, tetapi dia tidak berani mengatakannya saat itu.
Mendengar lelucon terakhirnya, para pejabat di sekitarnya tertawa bersamanya.
Maka, Hong In dan para pejabat meninggalkan tempat itu.
Mengikuti apa yang pasti merupakan perintah Sword King, spesialis mekanik juga keluar setelah mereka.
Sekarang hanya Geom Mugeuk dan Sword King yang tersisa di dalam.
Mendengar lelucon Sword King, Geom Mugeuk menjawab sambil tersenyum,
"Di sana gelap, jadi tolong lemparkan dengan hati-hati."
Sword King menatap Geom Mugeuk dengan tenang dan bertanya,
"Mengapa kau tidak mengantar mereka pergi? Bagaimana jika aku menyuruh bawahanku membunuh mereka?"
Tentu saja, itu bukan alasan sebenarnya. Alasan sebenarnya adalah ini—
"Apa artinya melepaskan mereka dengan selamat dari sini? Jika kau benar-benar memutuskan untuk membunuh mereka, kau bisa melakukannya kapan saja setelah mereka meninggalkan aula persilatan ini."
Dia tahu lebih baik dari siapa pun seberapa besar dan luas jangkauan organisasi mereka.
"Mungkin mereka selamat karena dirimu."
Menanggapi tatapan bertanya itu, Geom Mugeuk menjawab,
"Apakah kau sudah lupa? Ketika aku bertanya mengapa kau membawaku ke bawah tanah, bukankah kau bilang itu karena kau ingin menyelamatkan mereka? Aku hanya mengikuti niat itu, jadi pada akhirnya, kaulah yang menyelamatkan mereka. Itu berarti aku membantu para pejabat itu, tetapi kaulah yang pantas berbangga."
Sword King menatap Geom Mugeuk dalam diam. Tanpa ekspresi di wajahnya, mustahil untuk mengetahui apa yang dia pikirkan.
"Bagaimana, kita masuk?"
Geom Mugeuk mengambil tali dari kotak peralatan.
Dia mengikatkannya di pinggangnya sendiri dan memberikan ujung lainnya kepada Sword King.
"Ikat di pinggangmu. Mereka mungkin mencoba memisahkan kita menggunakan beberapa teknik."
Itu adalah tindakan pencegahan untuk menghindari perpisahan. Sword King, terkejut, bertanya,
"Kau perlu melindungiku, instruktur."
Sword King menatap Geom Mugeuk dan berkata,
Dia mulai bertanya-tanya apakah Tuan Muda Kedua ini mungkin mengikat tali itu untuk melindunginya.
"Kau sepertinya tidak serakah. Kebanyakan orang akan mencoba apa saja untuk masuk sendirian dan mengklaim apa pun yang ada di dalam."
Dia menduga Geom Mugeuk akan mencoba berpisah darinya, tetapi sebaliknya, pria itu justru mengulurkan tali untuk mengikat mereka bersama.
"Mereka bilang setiap harta karun di dunia persilatan sudah memiliki pemiliknya yang sah, bukan? Jika itu ditakdirkan untukku, itu akan datang padaku tanpa keserakahan."
Geom Mugeuk telah mempelajari pelajaran ini dengan baik di kehidupan sebelumnya. Saat berusaha mencapai sesuatu, hanya setetes keserakahan yang dibutuhkan.
Sword King mengikat tali di pinggangnya. Dia memberi cukup kelonggaran agar keduanya bisa bergerak bebas.
"Kalau begitu, bagaimana?"
Keduanya berjalan perlahan ke koridor gelap. Mereka mempertajam indra mereka secara ekstrem. Langkah demi langkah hati-hati, mereka maju—tetapi tidak terjadi apa-apa.
Lalu, tepat saat mereka mencapai tengah koridor—
Dari huruf dan pola yang terukir di kedua dinding, cahaya mulai muncul.
Sreett-sreett-sreett-sreett!
Seolah turun dari langit, para seniman bela diri yang memegang tombak muncul di depan mereka.
Para prajurit membentuk barisan di seberang koridor dan mengarahkan tombak mereka secara serempak.
Jumlah total—lima!
Prajurit lain muncul dari belakang, juga mengarahkan tombak mereka. Jumlahnya sama dengan yang muncul di depan.
Geom Mugeuk langsung mengerti.
'Mereka adalah prajurit dari lukisan dinding.'
Sword King mengambil posisi belakang, sementara Geom Mugeuk mengambil posisi depan.
Srak srak srak srak srak!
Seperti tentara
Chapter 586: Never Met a Villain Like This Before
As the door opened, a gust of old air burst forth.
It felt as if the space was finally exhaling a breath it had been holding in for a long time.
A long corridor faintly visible in the darkness.
Using the New Eye Technique, Geom Mugeuk peered into it and saw that the walls on both sides of the corridor were also engraved with various patterns, letters, and paintings, just like those on the door.
As though inscribed upon intestines, the darkness consumed it all and emanated an unknowable energy, enticing those who looked.
Come in, hurry and come in.
Enter, and you die.
Yet despite the instinctive warning, Geom Mugeuk felt that he must step inside.
It wasn't a sense of defiance or a thrill in facing the fear of the unknown.
Having arrived at the Golden Dragon Martial Hall, having met the Sword King, and remembering how the Sword King had told him to descend here—Geom Mugeuk felt it had all been the pull of destiny.
"Do you feel it?"
At Geom Mugeuk’s question, the Sword King nodded.
Just then, one of the officials began walking forward as if entranced. He passed by Geom Mugeuk and the Sword King, attempting to step inside, but Hong In rushed in and grabbed him.
"Snap out of it!"
Hong In slapped him across the face without mercy. Only then did the man come to his senses.
The darkness had tempted him inward. He was the weakest in internal energy and mental strength among the officials, and thus the first to fall for the lure.
Soon after, another official also began to move forward, but the one next to him managed to grab hold, snapping him out of it.
Geom Mugeuk sent a sound transmission to the Sword King.
He had a strong sense that if these people entered, they would not survive.
―Shall we go in alone?
He thought the Sword King would readily agree, but the decision did not come immediately.
Geom Mugeuk did not try to provoke him with words like—
He believed the Sword King's hesitation wasn’t because he was planning to lead them to their deaths, but for another reason.
After all, he could feel the man’s care for them. If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have shown them the stars.
Indeed, the Sword King's hesitation was for the officials.
―I wanted to show them that final place.
Geom Mugeuk, however, did not believe that taking them into that ominous darkness was the right choice.
―What they’ll see in there won’t help them live their lives going forward. Unless you intend to share the treasure with them. Will you?
The Sword King shook his head.
When the Sword King gave a sound transmission command to the mechanical device specialist, the man ran off somewhere.
“Your mission ends here.”
The officials were startled at those words. They had sensed that the excavation was nearing its end, but they hadn’t expected it to conclude with the opening of that door. They thought they would still have to go in and dismantle more mechanisms.
Yet they could feel it—the danger lurking beyond that door’s darkness. Just watching their comrades walk forward as if hypnotized was enough to tell them. If the temptation at the entrance was already this strong, what horrors awaited inside?
Now that it was truly ending, a rush of emotions swept over them. Shock gave way to relief. But in the end, what dominated their hearts was fear.
At that moment, the mechanical specialist who had received the order returned and handed out envelopes to everyone. Inside were the promised money exchange slips.
Originally, the officials had received their pay monthly. If someone needed it sent elsewhere, it would be sent on their behalf. They had collected the money diligently, fearing they might not get paid later—but since they couldn't leave anyway, holding on to it had lost meaning.
That was why the officials had asked the Sword King to give them their payment upon departure—and now, he had truly delivered on that promise.
The moment they saw the money, all the officials were overcome with emotion. After all, this was what they had endured everything for—to earn that money.
At the Sword King's words, tears welled up in several of the officials’ eyes. This long and dreadful ordeal was finally coming to an end.
Of course, many still harbored a desire to go all the way past that door. What kind of treasure must be hidden in there to warrant such elaborate mechanisms?
And beyond that, there was a faint hope. Could they perhaps get just a small piece of that treasure?
But seeing their fellow officials succumb to the seduction of the darkness, those thoughts vanished. All they wanted now was to leave this dreadful place behind.
They gathered before the Sword King for a final farewell. Among them were those whose lives he had saved more than once.
Speaking on behalf of everyone, Hong In addressed the Sword King.
“Thank you truly for everything.”
The officials behind him raised their voices in unison, expressing their gratitude.
“Be happy. I hope the day comes when I can visit the martial arts hall you’ll run.”
The Sword King had not forgotten that his dream was to open a martial arts hall.
Hong In bowed respectfully.
“I will never forget the grace you’ve shown me.”
“What happened here—keep it a secret. If not by my hand, you’ll end up dead at the hands of some greedy bastard. Just say the money was left to you as inheritance.”
They all understood exactly what he meant by those words, and so they nodded.
A sound transmission from Geom Mugeuk flew toward the Sword King.
―Never met a villain like this before.
Was it because the officials had entered through that door and all died? Or was it that they had been allowed to leave, and, surprisingly, had all survived while keeping the secret? Or was there yet another reason?
Whatever the case, in this lifetime, they had all survived. Some might belittle them, saying they risked their lives for money, but Geom Mugeuk didn’t see it that way. They were courageous survivors.
Before leaving, Hong In turned to look once more at Geom Mugeuk—the one who had saved them from the trap mechanisms. Was it because he believed the night under the stars and warm quilt had been possible thanks to this newcomer? Perhaps it was this newcomer’s presence that made their safe return possible.
Hong In bowed respectfully to Geom Mugeuk. When he raised his head, he tossed out one final joke. It was originally meant for the Sword King, but he hadn’t dared to say it then.
At his final joke, the surrounding officials laughed with him.
And so, Hong In and the officials left the place.
Following what must have been the Sword King’s order, the mechanical specialist also went out after them.
Now only Geom Mugeuk and the Sword King remained inside.
At the Sword King’s joke, Geom Mugeuk replied with a smile,
“It’s dark in there, so please throw carefully.”
The Sword King gazed quietly at Geom Mugeuk and asked,
“Why aren’t you seeing them off? What if I have my subordinates kill them?”
Of course, that wasn’t the real reason. The true reason was this—
“What meaning is there in letting them go safely from here? If you had truly decided to kill them, you could do it any time after they left this martial hall.”
He knew better than anyone just how large and far-reaching their organization was.
“Maybe they survived because of you.”
In response to the questioning look, Geom Mugeuk replied,
“Have you already forgotten? When I asked why you brought me underground, didn’t you say it was because you wanted to save them? I only followed that intention, so in the end, it’s you who saved them. That means I helped those officials, but you deserve to take pride in it.”
The Sword King stared silently at Geom Mugeuk. With no expression on his face, it was impossible to know what he was thinking.
“Shall we go?”
Geom Mugeuk fetched a rope from the toolbox.
He tied it around his own waist and handed the other end to the Sword King.
“Tie it around your waist. They might try to separate us using some technique.”
It was a precaution to avoid being separated. The Sword King, surprised, asked,
“You need to protect me, instructor.”
The Sword King looked at Geom Mugeuk and said,
He had begun to wonder if this Young Cult Leader might be tying the rope to protect him instead.
“You don’t seem greedy. Most would try anything to enter alone and claim whatever’s inside.”
He had expected Geom Mugeuk to try to separate from him, but instead, the man was extending a rope to bind them together.
“They say every treasure in the martial world already has its rightful owner, don’t they? If it’s destined to be mine, it’ll come to me without greed.”
Geom Mugeuk had already learned this lesson well in his previous life. When striving to achieve something, only a single drop of greed was needed.
The Sword King tied the rope around his waist. He allowed enough slack for the two to move freely.
“Well then, shall we?”
The two walked slowly into the dark corridor. They sharpened their senses to the extreme. Step by cautious step, they advanced—yet nothing happened.
Then, just as they reached the middle of the corridor—
From the letters and patterns engraved on both walls, light began to emerge.
Shk-shk-shk-shk-shk!
As if descending from the heavens, martial artists holding spears appeared before them.
The warriors formed a line across the corridor and pointed their spears in unison.
The total number—five!
More warriors appeared from behind, also aiming their spears. The number matched those who had appeared at the front.
Geom Mugeuk understood at once.
‘They’re the warriors from the wall paintings.’
The Sword King took the rear, while Geom Mugeuk took the front.
Chak chak chak chak chak!
Like trained soldiers, the spear-wielding warriors began to march forward. The aura they gave off was anything but ordinary.
Geom Mugeuk’s sword energy flew toward them.
The energy cut through the air toward the enemies—but instead of slicing through them, it simply passed through. It should have swept them aside, but instead, it went straight through, as though they were smoke—non-corporeal.
As they closed in, they thrust their spears.
Cheng cheng cheng cheng cheng!
Geom Mugeuk swiftly swung his sword, attempting to sever the spears.
Whoosh.
But just like before, when he had released sword energy, his blade passed straight through the spears.
When they attacked, their spears were real. But when Geom Mugeuk attempted to cut them down, they became illusions. This was a type of illusion art he had never encountered before.
He parried the stabbing spears and launched surprise counterattacks, but again, his blade simply passed through their bodies, cutting only air.
Step by step, Geom Mugeuk retreated. The situation in the rear was the same. Moreover, they weren’t just dolls blindly stabbing with spears—they displayed true spear techniques.
Eventually, the two were forced back until they were standing back to back.
“And you wanted to bring the officials in here?”
Swish swish swish swish swish!
Their combat method changed. The warriors now hurled their spears rapidly.
The two men each swung their swords swiftly to block them. The deflected spears shattered into light and vanished, only to reappear in the warriors’ hands once more.
What little fortune Geom Mugeuk and the Sword King had was that they didn’t have to worry about their backs.
Every illusion art or dark sorcery has a breaking method. That’s an unchanging absolute law. Which meant—the way to break it must exist somewhere in this space.
However, even using Blood Eye Essence and the New Eye Technique, he couldn’t see the method to dispel it.
While fending off their attacks, Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted toward the wall paintings. He activated the New Eye Technique and closely examined the artwork of the warriors holding spears.
One particular painting caught his eye at that moment.
That symbol appeared in several spots along the wall. Geom Mugeuk swiftly leapt toward one and thrust his sword into it.
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