One-Slash Sword Supreme menyerah untuk mengingat jalan. Saat pertama kali memasuki gua, dia mencoba mengingat jalan, setidaknya secara kasar. Tapi sekarang dia benar-benar menyerah.
One-Slash Sword Supreme bertanya pada Geom Mugeuk,
"Bagaimana kau tahu jalan ini begitu baik?"
"Sepertinya menemukan jalan adalah naluri yang kubawa sejak lahir."
"Bahkan Cult Leader pun tidak akan sebagus ini dalam menemukan jalan. Apa kau punya rahasia?"
Sebenarnya, ini adalah hasil dari latihan dan pengalaman. Dia tahu Gua Kematian ini luar dan dalam, dan indra arahannya yang tajam berasal dari kehidupan sebelumnya sebelum regresi, saat dia berkelana ke banyak tempat dan belajar melatihnya. Jika dia tidak mengingat dengan benar, dia akan tersesat di tempat yang sama lagi. Saat itu, berkelana tanpa tujuan adalah hal yang paling dia benci di dunia.
Setelah beberapa saat, Blood Heaven Blade Demon menggoda,
"Sepertinya intuisimu membawamu ke jalan buntu!"
Jalan yang mereka lalui beberapa saat ternyata buntu.
Karena tidak bisa melepaskan firasatnya, Geom Mugeuk pergi ke ujung jalan buntu dan memeriksa dindingnya.
Di bagian paling bawah dinding kiri, Geom Mugeuk menemukan lorong sempit. Sekilas, lorong itu sepenuhnya tersembunyi oleh batu yang menonjol, membuat lorong di bawahnya tidak terlihat. Itu hanya bisa dilihat jika seseorang berbaring rata di tanah.
Itulah mengapa orang biasa tidak akan pernah menemukannya. Siapa yang, setelah menyadari jalan itu buntu, akan merangkak ke lantai dan memeriksa sisi-sisinya?
"Benar saja, Tuan Muda Kedua memiliki mata yang tajam."
Saat One-Slash Sword Supreme memujinya, Blood Heaven Blade Demon menjadi kecil hati.
"Dia hanya beruntung. Bagaimana mungkin ada orang yang tahu itu ada di sana?"
"Setengah dari keberuntungan itu berkatmu, Elder."
"Kau menggodaku, jadi aku merasa harus menemukan sesuatu, itulah sebabnya aku datang sejauh ini."
"Dan setengah lainnya?"
Lalu Geom Mugeuk melihat ke arah bawah tempat lubang itu berada dan berkata,
"Aku merasakan aliran udara baru datang dari sisi ini."
Tidak peduli seberapa banyak dia menggoda, orang yang paling khawatir tentang Geom Mugeuk adalah Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
"Hati-hati."
Geom Mugeuk berbaring di tanah dan merangkak ke dalam lorong.
"Masuk ke sini."
Blood Heaven Blade Demon dan One-Slash Sword Supreme mengikutinya masuk. Tentu saja, Blood Heaven Blade Demon melakukannya dengan enggan.
"Aku tidak ingat kapan terakhir kali aku harus merangkak seperti ini."
Saat dua Demon Supremes melangkah masuk, kekaguman bersinar di mata mereka. Tempat itu berada di balik gua, sebuah ruang tertutup yang dikelilingi oleh tebing curam.
Karena medannya yang unik, kecuali seseorang melompat turun dari tebing tak berujung di atas, hampir mustahil untuk menemukan ruang tersembunyi ini dari luar.
Sebelum regresi, Geom Mugeuk pernah memanjat turun dari tebing-tebing itu. Saat itu, itu adalah era di mana dia bisa membual bahwa tidak ada tebing di dunia yang belum dia panjat.
Saat itulah, setelah turun ke sini, dia menemukan lubang ini. Hanya dengan masuk dia belajar bahwa lubang itu terhubung ke Gua Kematian.
'Ternyata tempat ini seindah ini.'
Dengan itu, Geom Mugeuk melompat menuju sisi tebing.
One-Slash Sword Supreme perlahan melihat sekeliling area. Yang pertama menarik matanya adalah bunga-bunga yang bermekaran di sudut-sudut. Bahkan ada bunga yang belum pernah dia lihat sebelumnya.
"Akan menyenangkan membangun rumah di sini suatu hari nanti dan hidup dengan tenang."
Mendengar kata-kata Blood Heaven Blade Demon, One-Slash Sword Supreme tersenyum. Seperti yang dia katakan, itu akan menjadi rumah di mana tidak hanya orang biasa, tetapi hanya master tak tertandingi yang mampu memanjat tebing seperti itu yang bisa berkunjung sebagai tamu.
Tak lama kemudian, Geom Mugeuk turun lagi—kali ini dengan sesuatu yang tak terduga di tangannya.
"Aku menemukan ini di pohon di tengah tebing."
Yang dia bawa kembali adalah tiga buah persik.
Dari buah persik itu memancarkan cahaya bercahaya, penuh dengan energi spiritual, dan aromanya jauh dari kata biasa.
Ekspresi Blood Heaven Blade Demon membeku tidak percaya, dan kemudian matanya melebar.
"Tentu saja ini bukan... Buah Roh Persik Abadi?"
Mendengar suaranya yang bergetar, Geom Mugeuk menjawab dengan senyuman.
Secara mengejutkan, buah persik ini memang Buah Roh Persik Abadi, harta obat langka yang tidak biasa seperti Lumut Abadi Stalaktit yang mereka temukan sebelumnya.
"Buah ini sangat baik untuk wanita. Kulitmu sudah cantik, tapi dengan ini, Sword Supreme, kulitmu akan menjadi selembut bayi. Silakan nikmati."
Jika Lumut Abadi Stalaktit sangat efektif untuk Blood Heaven Blade Demon, maka Buah Roh Persik Abadi ini adalah berkah yang dirancang untuk One-Slash Sword Supreme.
Geom Mugeuk menyerahkan buah-buahan itu kepada Blood Heaven Blade Demon dan One-Slash Sword Supreme.
Tapi Blood Heaven Blade Demon tidak memakannya.
"Setiap harta obat memiliki tuan yang ditakdirkan. Keberuntungan ini datang untukmu, jadi kau harus memakannya semua."
One-Slash Sword Supreme mengangguk setuju.
Geom Mugeuk melihat dua Demon Supremes. Ya, sebelum regresi, dia memakan semuanya sendirian.
"!"
"Kau sudah melihat bagaimana aku hidup sampai sekarang, jadi kau tahu, kan?"
Blood Heaven Blade Demon tidak bisa membantah. Dia tahu lebih baik dari siapa pun orang seperti apa Geom Mugeuk dan seberapa besar usaha yang dia lakukan. Dia juga tahu bahwa Geom Mugeuk tidak akan pernah makan sendirian.
"Meski begitu, kau harus mengambilnya."
"Kenapa dua? Ada tiga!"
Blood Heaven Blade Demon melirik One-Slash Sword Supreme. Dia sedang menghirup aroma harum Buah Roh Persik Abadi.
"Tidak sopan kan menolak terlalu banyak?"
Geom Mugeuk tersenyum dan mengulurkan tangannya ke Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Saat Geom Mugeuk meraih buah itu, Blood Heaven Blade Demon dengan cepat menarik tangannya. Tidak masalah jika tidak ada yang makan—tapi memikirkan menjadi satu-satunya yang tidak makan itu tak tertahankan!
"Kalau kupikir-pikir, aku memang merasa sedikit lapar."
"Cepat makan. Aku dengar Buah Roh Persik Abadi harus dimakan dalam waktu setengah seperempat jam setelah dipetik agar efektif."
Geom Mugeuk menggigit dalam-dalam buah yang dia pegang.
Jika ada yang namanya rasa surga, itu pasti ini. Jus manis, tidak seperti apa pun yang pernah dia rasakan, menyembur keluar dan langsung meluncur ke tenggorokannya.
Meskipun Geom Mugeuk tidak lagi membutuhkan kekuatan dalam, mengonsumsi Buah Roh Persik Abadi tetap merupakan tindakan yang sangat berharga.
Meskipun tidak bisa memberikan keabadian, buah itu memperkuat tubuh terhadap penyakit, meningkatkan panca indera, menumbuhkan kembali rambut yang hilang, dan meremajakan kulit.
Mendengar seruan Geom Mugeuk, One-Slash Sword Supreme juga menggigit buah itu. Biasanya, dia makan dengan tenang dan anggun, tapi kali ini dia makan dengan sungguh-sungguh, tidak ingin menyia-nyiakan setetes pun jusnya.
Ekspresinya sudah menjelaskan segalanya. Tidak berlebihan untuk mengatakan itu adalah makanan paling lezat yang pernah dia rasakan dalam hidupnya.
Siapa yang bisa menyangka, ketika dia meninggalkan kultus, dia akan merasakan Buah Roh Persik Abadi yang hanya dia dengar dari cerita?
Sejak bepergian dengan Geom Mugeuk, dia mengalami satu peristiwa tak terduga demi peristiwa lainnya. Dan masing-masing peristiwa itu mendebarkan dan penuh kegembiraan.
Mereka bertiga masing-masing duduk di tempat mereka dan mulai mengedarkan energi mereka.
Setelah sepenuhnya memurnikan energi besar yang terkandung dalam Buah Roh Persik Abadi, Blood Heaven Blade Demon membuka matanya. Tidak hanya kekuatan dalamnya meningkat, tetapi tubuhnya juga terasa lebih ringan.
Geom Mugeuk, yang selesai mengedarkan energi lebih dulu, sedang menatap ke atas ke langit kecil yang terlihat di antara tebing-tebing di sekitarnya.
Beruntung—mereka berhasil mendapatkan kedua harta karun yang tersembunyi di dalam Gua Kematian. Fakta bahwa tiga Buah Roh Persik Abadi matang mungkin adalah takdir.
Mengikuti Blood Heaven Blade Demon, One-Slash Sword Supreme juga menyelesaikan pengedaran energinya.
Bagi One-Slash Sword Supreme, yang berusaha keras untuk menjadi lebih kuat, efek dari Buah Roh Persik Abadi sangat membantu. Selain itu, itu juga memberinya tubuh yang lebih sehat dan kulit yang kencang dan awet muda.
Melihatnya, wajah Geom Mugeuk berseri-seri dengan senyuman.
"Justru akulah yang harus berterima kasih padamu. Jika kau tidak keluar dari kultus kali ini, bagaimana mungkin aku mendapatkan keberuntungan seperti ini? Ini semua berkatmu, Sword Supreme."
One-Slash Sword Supreme diam-diam menatap Geom Mugeuk. Apa yang bisa dia katakan kepada seseorang yang bahkan memberinya pujian untuk ini?
"Kau dengar itu, kan? Kau harus berterima kasih padaku."
Menyentuh pipinya sendiri, Blood Heaven Blade Demon menjawab,
"Benar juga, kulitku terasa membaik."
Mendengar itu, Geom Mugeuk menghunus pedangnya dan mengangkat bilahnya untuk memantulkan wajah Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
"Begitu kau meminum Lumut Abadi Stalaktit nanti, kulitmu akan membuat Poison King pun iri. Apa pentingnya usia? Selama hati masih muda dan tubuh sehat, itu yang terpenting."
Geom Mugeuk mengangkatnya dengan pujian di depan One-Slash Sword Supreme.
Hanya ada sedikit pujian yang lebih menyenangkan daripada diberi tahu bahwa seseorang terlihat lebih muda, dan Blood Heaven Blade Demon tidak bisa menyembunyikan senyumnya.
Geom Mugeuk berjalan kembali menuju lubang yang mereka lewati sebelumnya.
Dia merangkak keluar lebih dulu.
"Jadi? Apa tidak sepadan merangkak di tanah?"
"Tetap saja, merangkak adalah hal yang sangat kubenci!"
Biasanya, dia akan bersikeras menerobos dinding dan berjalan keluar. Tapi anehnya, kali ini dia dengan patuh merangkak melewati lorong itu.
Setelah di luar, Geom Mugeuk sekali lagi memimpin, menelusuri kembali jalan yang mereka lalui.
"Kali ini, aku punya firasat baik tentang arah ini!"
"Yah, intuisimu itu membawa kita ke Buah Roh Persik Abadi. Jadi tentu saja aku akan mengikuti."
Maka, dua Demon Supremes sekali lagi berjalan di jejak Geom Mugeuk.
Di luar, pemandangan masih seperti neraka. Jeritan yang bergema dari segala arah mengingatkan mereka bahwa mereka telah kembali ke kenyataan.
Berapa lama mereka berjalan? Di depan, dua seniman bela diri berdiri dalam kebuntuan, pedang mereka saling menunjuk.
Salah satunya adalah Jade Sky Axe, yang terkenal di seluruh Honam karena penguasaannya atas satu kapak besar. Yang lainnya adalah Strange Blood Blade, seorang master dari Jiangxi yang datang ke sini setelah mendengar rumor Peta Harta Karun. Karena kemalangan, dua ahli dengan kekuatan yang hampir setara telah bertemu.
Kekuatan yang mereka keluarkan memenuhi sekeliling. Karena mereka tahu kekuatan masing-masing dengan baik, tidak ada
Chapter 734: Can't Stand Eating Alone
One-Slash Sword Supreme gave up on memorizing the path.
When she first entered the cave, she tried to remember the way, even roughly. But now she had given up completely.
One-Slash Sword Supreme asked Geom Mugeuk,
“How do you know the way so well?”
“I suppose finding paths is an instinct I was born with.”
“Not even the Cult Leader would be this good at finding the way. Do you have some secret?”
In truth, it was the result of training and experience. He knew this Cave of Death inside out, and his keen sense of direction came from his previous life before the regression, wandering through many places and learning to train it. If he didn’t remember properly, he would end up lost in the same places again. Back then, wandering aimlessly was the thing he hated most in the world.
After a moment, Blood Heaven Blade Demon teased,
“Seems your intuition has led to a dead end!”
The path they had been walking for some time turned out to be blocked.
Unable to let go of his hunch, Geom Mugeuk went all the way to the end of the dead end and examined the wall.
At the very bottom of the left wall, Geom Mugeuk discovered a narrow passage. At first glance, it was completely hidden by a protruding rock, making the passage beneath it invisible. It could only be seen if one lay flat on the ground.
That was why ordinary people would never discover it. Who, after realizing a path was just a dead end, would crawl to the floor and check the sides?
“As expected, the Young Cult Leader has a sharp eye.”
When One-Slash Sword Supreme praised him, Blood Heaven Blade Demon grew petty.
“He just got lucky. How could anyone have known that was there?”
“Half of it was luck thanks to you, Elder.”
“You teased me, so I felt I had to at least find something, which is why I came all the way here.”
“And the other half?”
Then Geom Mugeuk looked toward the bottom where the hole was and said,
“I sensed a new flow of air coming from this side.”
No matter how much he teased, the one most worried about Geom Mugeuk was Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Be careful.”
Geom Mugeuk lay on the ground and crawled into the passage.
“Come in here.”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon and One-Slash Sword Supreme followed him inside. Of course, Blood Heaven Blade Demon did so reluctantly.
“I can’t remember the last time I had to crawl like this.”
When the two Demon Supremes stepped inside, awe flickered in their eyes. The place lay beyond the cave, an enclosed space surrounded by sheer cliffs.
Because of its unique terrain, unless one leapt down from those endless cliffs above, it would have been nearly impossible to discover this hidden space from the outside.
Before the regression, Geom Mugeuk had once climbed down those very cliffs. Back then, it was the era when he could boast that there was no cliff in the world he had not scaled.
It was then, after descending here, that he had discovered this hole. Only by entering had he learned it connected to the Cave of Death.
‘So this place was this beautiful.’
With that, Geom Mugeuk leapt toward the cliffside.
One-Slash Sword Supreme slowly looked around the area. What drew her eyes first were the flowers blooming in the corners. There were even flowers she had never seen before.
“It would be wonderful to build a house here someday and live quietly.”
At Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s words, One-Slash Sword Supreme smiled. Just as he said, it would be a home where not only ordinary people but only unmatched masters capable of climbing such cliffs could ever visit as guests.
Soon after, Geom Mugeuk descended again—this time with something unexpected in his hands.
“I found this on a tree halfway down the cliff.”
What he brought back were three peaches.
From the peaches radiated a luminous glow, brimming with spiritual energy, and their fragrance was anything but ordinary.
Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s expression froze in disbelief, and then his eyes widened.
“Surely these can’t be... the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit?”
At his trembling voice, Geom Mugeuk replied with a smile.
Astonishingly, these peaches were indeed the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit, a rare medicinal treasure as uncommon as the Stalactite Immortal Moss they had found before.
“It’s especially known to be beneficial for women. Your skin is already beautiful, but with this, Sword Supreme, it will become as soft as a baby’s. Go on, please enjoy it.”
If the Stalactite Immortal Moss had been particularly effective for Blood Heaven Blade Demon, then this Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit was a boon tailored for One-Slash Sword Supreme.
Geom Mugeuk handed the fruits to both Blood Heaven Blade Demon and One-Slash Sword Supreme.
But Blood Heaven Blade Demon did not eat it.
“Every medicinal treasure has its destined master. This fortune came to you, so you should consume it all.”
One-Slash Sword Supreme nodded in agreement.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the two Demon Supremes. Yes, before the regression, he had eaten it all alone.
“!”
“You’ve seen how I’ve lived until now, so you know, don’t you?”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon could not argue. He knew better than anyone what kind of person Geom Mugeuk was and how much effort he had put in. He also knew that Geom Mugeuk would never eat alone.
“Even so, you should take it.”
“Why two? There are three!”
Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced at One-Slash Sword Supreme. She was inhaling the fragrant scent of the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit.
“It wouldn’t be polite to refuse too much, would it?”
Geom Mugeuk smiled and reached his hand out to Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
As Geom Mugeuk reached for the fruit, Blood Heaven Blade Demon quickly pulled his hand back. It was fine if no one ate—but the thought of being the only one not eating was unbearable!
“Now that I think of it, I do feel a little hungry.”
“Hurry and eat. I’ve heard that the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit must be consumed within half a quarter-hour after being picked to be effective.”
Geom Mugeuk bit deeply into the fruit he was holding.
If there were such a thing as the taste of heaven, it had to be this. Sweet juice, unlike anything he had ever tasted, gushed forth and slid instantly down his throat.
Though Geom Mugeuk no longer needed inner strength, consuming the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit was still an act of great worth.
Though it could not grant immortality, it strengthened the body against disease, enhanced the five senses, regrew lost hair, and rejuvenated the skin.
At Geom Mugeuk’s exclamation, One-Slash Sword Supreme also bit into the fruit. Normally, she ate with poise and elegance, but this time she carefully ate in earnest, not wanting to waste even a single drop of juice.
Her expression told the story. It was no exaggeration to say it was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted in her life.
Who could have guessed, when he had left the cult, that he would one day taste the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit he had only ever heard of in stories?
Since traveling with Geom Mugeuk, he had been experiencing one unexpected event after another. And each of them was thrilling and full of delight.
The three of them each sat down in their places and began circulating their energy.
After fully refining the immense energy contained in the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit, Blood Heaven Blade Demon opened his eyes. Not only had his inner strength increased, but his body also felt lighter.
Geom Mugeuk, who had finished his energy circulation first, was gazing up at the small patch of sky visible between the surrounding cliffs.
It was fortunate—they had managed to obtain both fortuitous treasures hidden within the Cave of Death. The fact that three Immortal Peach Spirit Fruits had ripened might well have been fate.
Following Blood Heaven Blade Demon, One-Slash Sword Supreme also finished her energy circulation.
For One-Slash Sword Supreme, who was striving to grow stronger, the effects of the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit were of tremendous help. On top of that, it also gave her a healthier body and firm, youthful skin.
Looking at her, Geom Mugeuk’s face brightened with a smile.
“On the contrary, I should be the one thanking you. If you hadn’t left the cult this time, how could I have gained such fortune? This is all thanks to you, Sword Supreme.”
One-Slash Sword Supreme silently gazed at Geom Mugeuk. What could she say to someone who even gave her credit for this?
“You heard that, didn’t you? You should be grateful to me.”
Touching his own cheek, Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied,
“It really does feel like my skin has improved.”
At that, Geom Mugeuk drew his sword and held the blade up to reflect Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s face.
“Once you take the Stalactite Immortal Moss later, your skin will put even the Poison King’s to shame. What does age matter? As long as the heart is young and the body is healthy, that’s all that counts.”
Geom Mugeuk lifted him up with praise in front of One-Slash Sword Supreme.
There were few compliments more delightful than being told one looked younger, and Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn’t hide his smile.
Geom Mugeuk walked back toward the hole they had crawled through earlier.
He crawled out first.
“So? Wasn’t it worth crawling across the ground?”
“Still, crawling is something I absolutely despise!”
Normally, he would have insisted on breaking through the wall and walking out. Yet strangely enough, this time he meekly crawled through the passage.
Once outside, Geom Mugeuk once again took the lead, retracing the path they had come.
“This time, I have a good feeling about this direction!”
“Well, that intuition of yours led us to the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit. So of course I’ll follow.”
And so, the two Demon Supremes once again walked in Geom Mugeuk’s footsteps.
Outside, the landscape was still a vision of hell. The screams echoing from all directions reminded them they had returned to reality.
How long had they walked? Up ahead, two martial artists stood locked in a standoff, their swords pointed at one another.
One of them was the Jade Sky Axe, famed throughout Honam for his mastery of a single great axe. The other was the Strange Blood Blade, a master from Jiangxi who had come here after hearing rumors of the Treasure Map. By sheer misfortune, two experts of nearly equal strength had crossed paths.
The force they exuded filled the surroundings. Because they knew each other’s strength well, neither moved recklessly.
“You are one I had thought to fight at the very end.”
The Jade Sky Axe valued both himself and his opponent that highly.
“If we must fight sooner or later, why bother delaying?”
The place where they had met was narrow, and so the Strange Blood Blade believed he held the advantage. In such tight quarters, it was easier to wield a blade than a massive axe.
The tension was thick, as if a strike might be unleashed at any moment, when suddenly, someone’s voice cut in.
Both men froze in shock.
Pass through? Here?
Here, where the Jade Sky Axe and the Strange Blood Blade stood poised to kill each other, their weapons drawn? Through this cramped passage?
The two of them thought at once, Is this man insane? But the madman truly walked between them.
He even greeted them while passing through the very space between flashing axe and gleaming blade.
The two martial artists were dumbfounded. It was so absurd they couldn’t even laugh.
While they passed one after another, neither of the two experts dared move. A single rash action would invite their opponent’s strike. Worse, if those lunatics decided to attack together, things would turn catastrophic.
“What was that just now?”
“They must have gone mad from fear.”
Yet, despite their words, both could feel it—those people were not ordinary.
Without a word, the two slowly lowered their weapons and disappeared in opposite directions.
And Geom Mugeuk simply continued forward.
The two Demon Supremes followed behind, holding torches and scanning their surroundings. Caves opened in every direction. It had been confusing enough before, but here it was truly overwhelming. In a single chamber, as many as ten openings gaped wide. Entering one led again to five or six branching paths. Every passage was the same.
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