Bab 249. Gunung Para Pertapa (23)
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Jiang Shi-chan, berpaling dari Park Chan-woo dan Chiwoo, mengertakkan gigi.
‘Seharusnya ini hanya masalah sederhana.’
Saat ia turun dari gunung, ia penuh kepercayaan diri.
Hanya soal menangani orang bernama Anton itu. Memastikan rahasia Menara Misteri tidak bocor, atau jika bocor, dapat dihentikan, adalah tugas tunggalnya.
Seharusnya mudah seperti bernapas. Namun semua justru berjalan berlawanan dengan yang ia bayangkan.
‘Penjara Naga Hitam. Seperti namanya, ini adalah penjara yang mampu menahan bahkan seekor naga. Neraka tempat hanya para master iblis paling kejam yang dikumandangi.’
Rahasia menara telah bocor, dan Anton telah menghilang.
Masalahnya terletak pada tempat Anton ditahan. Di dalam Penjara Naga Hitam, yang juga dikenal sebagai Kandang Naga Hitam, Anton menghilang tanpa jejak. Tidak ada bukti yang menunjukkan siapa yang melakukannya, kapan, atau mengapa dia diambil.
‘Bahkan bagiku, menculik seseorang dari Penjara Naga Hitam tidak mungkin.’
Dia telah menggalang segalanya, menyelidik berulang-ulang, namun tidak ada bukti sama sekali yang muncul. Kecuali seseorang telah menguasai teknik stealth pada tingkat sempurna, hal ini tidak mungkin terjadi.
…Siapa yang bisa? Siapa yang telah menguasai stealth seperti itu? Apakah ada orang seperti itu di gunung ini?
‘Mungkinkah ini senjata rahasia yang disembunyikan oleh klan lain?’
Hal itu mungkin.
Sama seperti Klan Jiangshi yang menciptakan Jiangshi menggunakan kekuatan raja iblis, klan lain telah menyembunyikan kekuatan rahasia mereka sendiri dalam bayang-bayang.
Saat ini, ‘Aula Sepuluh Ribu Dewa’ dipenuhi ketegangan. Setiap klan secara diam-diam memegang pedang di hatinya, semua menunjuk satu sama lain. Hubungan mereka tidak pernah baik, tetapi sekarang telah mencapai puncak hostilitas.
Dan hanya karena satu alasan:
‘…Sudah 50 tahun sejak Lord Great White menghilang.’
Menggunakan pengasingan dan kultivasi diri sebagai alasan, Great White telah memasuki bagian terdalam gunung dan tidak kembali selama setengah abad.
Selama 50 tahun, dengan tuan gunung tidak ada, sembilan klan mulai membambang ambisi baru. Mereka mulai membayangkan sendiri duduk di kursi kosong itu.
Sebelumnya, pemikiran seperti itu tak terbayangkan.
Great White. Kekuatan mutlaknya begitu besar sehingga jika seluruh klan menyerang, mereka tidak bisa melakukan apa pun. Namun dalam 50 tahun terakhir, sembilan klan telah tumbuh pesat dalam kekuatan.
Sebuah gunung tanpa tuan.
Jika mereka mampu mengalahkan klan lain, mereka sangat well bisa menjadi tuan berikutnya.
‘Kita tidak boleh memberi makan predator…’
Itu sebabnya. Menjadi diam dan menghindari menjadi target adalah yang terpenting.
Jika mereka memberi klan lain alasan untuk menyerang bersama, bahkan Klan Jiangshi yang perkasa tidak akan mampu menahannya.
‘Setidaknya jurnal penelitian ada di tangan orang itu, maka Anton saja tidak cukup.’
Untuk menarget Klan Jiangshi, diperlukan baik Anton maupun jurnal penelitian. Tapi jurnal tersebut ada di tangan Park Chan-woo.
Penipu itu yang telah mengambil dua Pil Pemulihan Besar sebagai imbalan karena diam tentang jurnal.
...Saat dipikir kembali, ada kecurigaan yang mencurigakan. Bukankah Anton menghilang hari setelah ia bertemu Park Chan-woo?
Apakah semua ini benar-benar kebetulan?
‘Tidak peduli seberapa besar alam rahasia yang ada di belakangnya, hal ini mustahil.’
Dia menggelengkan kepalanya dalam hati.
Penjara Naga Hitam bukanlah sesuatu yang dapat dipengaruhi oleh alam rahasia biasa. Dan tidak ada seorang pun di alam rahasia yang telah menguasai stealth hingga tingkat sempurna. Dengan teknik rendah seperti itu, mencapai ketinggian seperti itu pasti mustahil. Dan yet…
‘Park Chan-woo, Chiwoo...’
Keduanya cukup formidable. Terutama Chiwoo, energi dalamnya jauh di luar bayangan.
Arisa telah menjamin asal-usul mereka, tetapi—
“Bayangan Pertama, Bayangan Kedua.”
“Pada perintahnmu, tuan muda.”
Dari kegelapan, dua master muncul. Mereka termasuk subordinat paling dipercaya Jiang Shi-chan.
Pria-ria yang akan mengikuti perintahnya bahkan ke dalam lubang kedalam seribu kaki. Dan yang lebih penting, mereka selalu menyelesaikan tugas dengan sempurna.
“Bayangan Pertama, turun ke alam rahasia segera dan investigasi keduanya.”
“Saya taat.”
“Bayangan Kedua, pergi ke Aula Sepuluh Ribu Dewa dan minta arsivaris mencari segala hal yang terkait dengan nama ‘Chiwoo.’”
“Ya.”
Desir!
Keduanya menghilang ke dalam bayangan segera. Tidak ada cara investigasi sebelumnya tentang alam rahasia tersebut telah menyeluruh.
Dia perlu sendiri menggali lebih dalam. Selain itu—
‘Chiwoo. Nama itu terasa unfamiliar.’
Itu adalah nama yang ia kira pernah didengar dulu lama sekali, hingga ia tidak ingat lagi siapa yang mengucapkannya.
Jika ada yang tahu, itu pasti arsivaris Aula Sepuluh Ribu Dewa, yang mengetahui segala hal tentang gunung.
“Dan Bayangan Ketiga.”
“Ya!”
Seorang pria besar muncul.
Berbeda dengan Bayangan Pertama dan Bayangan Kedua, Bayangan Ketiga adalah master yang secara pribadi menjaga Jiang Shi-chan.
Dalam hal kekuatan mentah, ia tidak ada yang setara.
“Awawas, awas, awas.”? Wait we need to translate: “You will watch over Park Chan-woo and Chiwoo. Make sure no other clan can make a move on them.”
Let's translate: “Awawas” no. We'll translate: “Awawas” is not correct. We'll translate: “Awawas” no.
We'll translate: “Awawas” no.
Let's do proper: “Awawas” no.
We'll translate: “Awawas” no.
Ok: “Awawas” no.
Let's just translate: “Awawas” no.
We'll translate: “Awawas” no.
Ok.
After Third Shadow left, Jiang Shi-chan let out a sigh.
The great Jiang Shi-chan had been reduced to the role of babysitter.
While the other clans would not act overtly, the one who had abducted Anton might still make a move against those two.
‘I must recover the journal quietly. And I must learn who abducted Anton.’
But it didn’t seem likely that Park Chan-woo would hand over the journal easily. What did he want?
A man who demanded a Great Rejuvenation Pill just for ‘keeping quiet.’
‘I’ll have to enter the Vault of Ten Thousand Treasures.’
He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
There were countless things more valuable than Great Rejuvenation Pills in there. Although it was distasteful to have to beg the owner of that vault.
Clench!
He tightly curled his fist.
‘...My patience is not infinite. Do not test me.’
* * *
After three days, great changes occurred even on the Mid-tiers.
“I heard the Jiangshi Clan is doing everything to recruit those two?”
“Even Arisa from the secret realm has been visiting daily.”
“The other clans are the same.”
A recruitment war had begun over Park Chan-woo and Chiwoo.
The first move had been Jiang Shi-chan’s visit. Once the young master of the Jiangshi Clan openly showed himself, rumors were bound to spread.
“They’re just from the secret realm, aren’t they?”
“If they were just some ordinary secret-realm Arhats, would Jiang Shi-chan move personally?”
“Maybe reaching the 150th floor wasn’t mere luck?”
“Whatever it is, there’s clearly something we don’t know.”
“I even heard a rumor that the Jiangshi Clan gifted a Great Rejuvenation Pill to recruit them?”
“What?! A Great Rejuvenation Pill?”
The Arhats’ attention was immediately drawn.
The value of the two was soaring sky-high. Especially at the mention of the Great Rejuvenation Pill, everyone was shocked.
‘He promised to keep quiet about the journal, but he never said he’d keep quiet about receiving the Great Rejuvenation Pill.’
Of course, that rumor had been deliberately spread by Park Chan-woo.
He had asked Arisa to slowly let the news leak. Thanks to that, Park Chan-woo had become an instant star on the Mid-tiers. Recruiting him now meant offering treasures beyond even a Great Rejuvenation Pill.
‘Looks like the stage is set.’
Park Chan-woo smiled faintly.
The task of inflating their ‘value’ was complete. He had thoroughly used Jiang Shi-chan to draw more attention than expected.
Now, it was time to move.
“What brings you to our sanctuary...?”
The Sanctuary of Sound, a place where strange melodies echoed.
Arhats stood guard at the entrance.
Chiwoo stepped forward.
“I wish to look around your sanctuary.”
“...! Please wait a moment.”
One of the Arhats quickly left.
Soon, another Arhat hurried over.
“Oh! Are you not the heroes of the Mid-tier?! Are you interested in our sanctuary?”
A man appeared with an instrument on his back, his eyes sparkling.
This place was originally hostile to the secret realm and the Sword Sanctuary. But the value of Park Chan-woo and Chiwoo had already surpassed their origins.
If they could recruit them, it would be a perfect chance to prove they were superior to the Jiangshi Clan.
“Our successor wishes to study here.”
“Ah! In that case, you are always welcome. Please, come in. I shall guide you personally!”
The man readily accepted and led them inside the sanctuary.
Soon, the reason for its name as a ‘Sanctuary’ became clear.
‘A rock?’
At the center stood a giant stone emitting a faint melody.
The man spoke proudly.
“That stone is the Holy Grail of Sound. Only those who receive our approval may stand before it and take the trial.”
“That’s the Holy Grail...?”
Chiwoo tilted his head.
A mere rock, called a Holy Grail. But that wasn’t the only reason for his reaction.
‘That is no Holy Grail.’
He was certain.
And so was Park Chan-woo.
Because—
‘The Black Star.’
That was a Creation Abyss fragment from a destroyed world.
‘It’s an entrance to the Creation Abyss of a fallen world.’
And only those who met the conditions could enter. The ‘condition’ was likely the approval of those who possessed the stone.
‘Like the Fox Den.’
Park Chan-woo nodded.
“May I attempt the trial of the Holy Grail?”
“...That is a bit difficult.”
“If I fail, both of us will devote ourselves to this ‘Sanctuary of Sound.’”
“...!!”
The man’s eyes widened.
If they failed, he could recruit both for free. All he had to do was allow them to try. There would be no need to offer gifts like Great Rejuvenation Pills.
After a moment of hesitation, the man nodded.
In truth, there was no reason to refuse. Passing the trial without any explanation was extremely difficult.
“…Very well. I expect you to keep that promise.”
* * *
The next day.
Second Shadow returned from the archivist and reported to Jiang Shi-chan. He had gone to the Hall of Ten Thousand Deities to ask about ‘Chiwoo.’
Jiang Shi-chan frowned at the report.
“No access rights? Even for Me?”
It meant that learning about the name Chiwoo required a clearance he didn’t have. But he was the young master of the Jiangshi Clan, one of the nine great clans.
If he had no clearance, then who in the world did?
‘Chiwoo... He really is someone extraordinary.’
His curiosity deepened.
And at that very moment, Arisa was also struck by a similar shock.
“Are you saying he is an absolute being who surpasses even Lord Great White, Father?”
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