Chapter 451 : Chasing the Mystery (2)
Chapter 451: Chasing the Mystery (2)
Yong Hwarin had once explained to the five women about the Four Great Clans, the Dragon's Energy, and the Dragon Bone Cavern.
The most rational of them, Hoi Unkyung, was the first to speak.
“I think it’s likely a force related to the Dragon Bone Cavern.”
“That’s why I’m tailing Seollan. If we keep following her, the answer should come to light. If she enters the Hundred Justice Alliance safely, then we can just go sightseeing afterward. So please bear with it a little longer.”
Namgung Yoo spoke.
“Now that I hear your words, sightseeing in the murim isn’t what matters most. Seollan’s safety is more important. From what Soomyung told me, before entering the Alliance, she said they plan to stop by Baekma Temple and Yongmun Stone Cave first.”
Namgung Yoo had previously addressed Yong Hwarin informally.
That had been possible because they were friends, but now she called him Gaga and used formal speech, all on the advice of Jeong Minji.
It was said to be improper for Namgung Yoo to be the only one using informal speech while all five women addressed Yong Hwarin respectfully.
Namgung Yoo respected Jeong Minji, so she had followed her advice.
“That’s exactly it. If those bastards are planning to kidnap Seollan, that place would be the perfect spot.”
Mo Biyoung added.
“So far, it doesn’t seem like anyone else is following your sister besides us.”
Since Mo Biyoung never neglected reconnaissance, whether day or night, her words were surely accurate.
“It's possible those bastards are hiding out near Baekma Temple or Yongmun Stone Cave. So even if it seems quiet, stay alert to your surroundings.”
At Yong Hwarin’s words, the five women responded in unison.
“Yes, Gaga. Don’t worry.”
After speaking at the same time, the five women looked at each other and laughed.
Pang Giyok had brought his friend’s younger sister along on their way to the Hundred Justice Alliance because she had said she wanted to see Baekma Temple and Yongmun Stone Cave.
He found it strange that Yong Hwarin had agreed so readily, but Yong Hwarin had said he trusted his friend to look after her, so Pang Giyok had brought her.
Jegal Yohye planned to bring Yong Seollan into the Hundred Justice Alliance and then use that to bring Yong Hwarin in as well, but that was a vain hope.
Even if the Alliance Leader himself came to entreat Yong Hwarin three times with all sincerity, he would not be the kind to accept.
Pang Giyok couldn’t understand why Yong Hwarin, who possessed such skill, had no interest in stepping into the world and achieving his ambitions—but he respected his friend’s wishes all the same.
It would be too crowded during the Lunar New Year to visit Baekma Temple or Yongmun Stone Cave, so they had arrived early to see them beforehand.
“Seollan.”
“Yes, Giyok Orabeoni.”
“Let’s stop by Yongmun Stone Cave before heading to Baekma Temple.”
“Whichever is easier for you, Orabeoni.”
“Let’s grab a bite first. There’s nowhere to eat at the cave.”
Pang Giyok’s group headed for the nearest inn.
Yong Hwarin watched them enter the inn and fell into thought.
‘This part is exactly the same as in my previous life. Seollan died at Yongmun Stone Cave.’
Sensing Yong Hwarin’s tension as he quietly followed behind, the five women became cautious. Jeong Minji looked to Hoi Unkyung and Bukri Sehee, who were the weakest in martial arts among them, and said,
“You two wait at the inn.”
“Unnie, we want to come too.”
Jeong Minji shook her head.
“No. If we end up fighting the enemy, what if you two get taken hostage or become a burden to Gaga? And we need someone to guard the rear. If something happens to us, there has to be someone left to ask for help. Your role is just as important. If anything happens, use the carrier pigeon I leave behind to send word, and I’ll use the one I take with me to do the same. As soon as you receive our pigeon, contact the Hundred Justice Alliance right away.”
Jeong Minji had already laid out the plan and left Hoi Unkyung and Bukri Sehee at the inn.
If a fight broke out, Namgung Yoo or Mo Biyoung would be of great help, but Hoi Unkyung, who knew no martial arts, and Bukri Sehee, who had high internal energy but poor sound arts, were at great risk.
That was why they were left at the inn to hold the rear.
After finishing their meal at the inn, Pang Giyok’s party set off for Yongmun Stone Cave.
Along with Yungang Grottoes of Datong and Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, Yongmun Stone Cave was counted among the three great grottoes of the continent, famous for its artistic and exquisitely beautiful carvings.
Yongmun Stone Cave was carved into a massive limestone mountain stretching over four li, with 2,300 caves, more than 142,200 Buddha statues, and over 40 pagodas.
The smaller caves were called sanggam, and inside were statues of various sizes.
Anyone who saw Yongmun Stone Cave in person would be overwhelmed by its size and scale, staring at the grottoes for quite some time.
Looking at the countless caves carved into the sheer cliff evoked awe at nature’s vastness and admiration for the humans who dared challenge it.
“Wow! This is really amazing.”
Yong Seollan kept exclaiming in awe, her eyes darting around.
All the famous caves had their own names.
Even Namgung Soomyung, seeing it for the first time, was busy looking around.
“Giyok Orabeoni, we’re going to check over that way.”
As Yong Seollan and Jegal Yohye headed west, Pang Giyok said,
“Let’s go together.”
He was worried about letting Seollan stray too far.
He had promised to look after his friend’s little sister, and if something happened, he wouldn’t be able to face Yong Hwarin again.
So the four moved together, appreciating the caves.
Then, Yong Seollan felt the urge to relieve herself.
“Giyok Orabeoni, I’ll be right back—I need to take care of something.”
Yongmun Stone Cave had been formed along the Igang River, and lush vegetation surrounded the cliffs.
Yong Seollan approached the riverbank and squatted down to relieve herself.
Just as she was about to get up, she sensed a presence from the far southwestern end—specifically near the Geuknam Cave.
And the glimpses of a face she caught looked familiar.
So she moved closer to take a better look.
In truth, he had intended to call Pang Giyok first, but because Namgung Soomyung had practically dragged him into the cave, he didn’t want to interrupt them and moved alone.
Yong Hwarin witnessed the scene from the thickets along the Igang River and began to move quietly.
‘It looks like Seollan is approaching someone she recognized… but who did she see that made her go there?’
Yong Hwarin cautioned the three women.
“There might be experts up ahead. Use Dragon Concealment Heavenly Art to suppress your presence as much as possible.”
Jeong Minji, Mo Biyoung, and Namgung Yoo nodded.
“Yes, Gaga.”
Yong Hwarin used the brush for cover as he trailed behind Yong Seollan.
Jeong Minji observed the Geuknam Cave from a distance of a hundred jang, but couldn’t see who was inside.
Yong Seollan carefully approached Geuknam Cave.
Then a deep voice echoed from within.
“Who goes there!”
It was someone inside the cave reacting warily as Yong Seollan approached.
“I… I’m Yong Seollan.”
Another deep voice followed from within the cave.
“Yong Seollan?”
Yong Seollan thought, There’s no way they’d know my name. After all, she had only seen that person from afar.
“I… I’m Yong Hwarin’s sister, Yong Seollan.”
She answered hesitantly, but the cave fell into silence.
“What business do you have here?”
Another question came from within.
Yong Seollan cautiously replied.
“I’m here with Pang Giyok and Namgung Soomyung Orabeoni. Before entering the Hundred Justice Alliance, we stopped by to tour the caves.”
“Then take a look and be on your way.”
But then, another voice rang out from deeper inside.
“She must not leave. She saw us, so she must die.”
Hearing that, Yong Seollan was gripped by sudden fear.
She quickly turned and tried to flee, but someone burst out from within the cave, blocked her path, and seized her by the throat.
As the situation unfolded abruptly, Yong Hwarin was startled and almost leapt out.
‘That’s right—Seollan was strangled to death in my past life.’
Seeing everything unfold exactly as in his previous life, Yong Hwarin was shocked.
He prepared to use Dragon Scale Finger.
Ready to strike at a moment’s notice, he poised himself for attack.
At that moment, Namgung Yoo sent him a telepathic message.
– Gaga, that man is Mun Gyeom, the Lord of Blood Demon Castle.
Yong Hwarin had never seen Mun Gyeom before and didn’t know his face.
Namgung Yoo, however, had seen the Lord of Blood Demon Castle once while following Namgung Bi, so she remembered him.
Two elderly men appeared behind Mun Gyeom.
Seeing them, Yong Hwarin suddenly recalled what Eungjin had said before his death.
“Back then, Eungjin said he would meet the master of the Three Demonic Heavens because of the Dragon Bone Cavern. Then, these two must be Valley Leader Sohyeon of the Valley of Hidden Darkness and Cult Leader Sandok of the Holy Heaven Cult.”
It was obvious from how Mun Gyeom spoke cautiously to the two, and from the emblems on their martial robes—one marked with the Valley of Hidden Darkness, the other with the Holy Heaven Cult.
“If you had just walked away, you might’ve lived.”
A figure emerged from the cave.
When Yong Hwarin saw that person’s face, his heart nearly stopped in shock.
Only now did he understand the meaning of the words Mae Yeongyeong had written on her palm.
“No way! Now I see—Mae Yeongyeong’s ‘a light under the lamp is darkest’ referred not just to Eungjin… but also to this person. She was short on time, so she used that phrase to convey both meanings.”
Seeing Yong Hwarin tremble, Jeong Minji spoke to him telepathically.
– Gaga, are you alright? But isn’t that the Martial Flower Lord? Why is the Martial Flower Lord with the masters of the Three Demonic Heavens? And in a place like this, no less?
Yong Hwarin’s mind was in such disarray that Jeong Minji’s voice didn’t even register.
The three women sensed something was very wrong when they heard Yong Hwarin’s teeth clacking.
They had never seen Yong Hwarin this tense and shaken before.
“Could it really be that shocking to see the Martial Flower Lord meeting with those people?”
Jeong Minji thought perhaps the Martial Flower Lord had reached out to the masters of the Three Demonic Heavens while organizing the Martial World Assembly.
After all, it was said that demonic experts would also be participating in the Assembly.
Yong Hwarin muttered under his breath in a trembling voice.
“It was the Martial Flower Lord behind it all?”
“Was it really her?”
“I can’t believe it. So there really was someone pulling the strings behind Eungjin.”
As Yong Hwarin began to convulse, Jeong Minji held his hand, Mo Biyoung embraced him from behind, and Namgung Yoo placed a hand on his shoulder.
Only then did Yong Hwarin come back to his senses, warmed by their touch.
“What’s wrong?” Jeong Minji asked.
Yong Hwarin replied,
“I think I’ve figured out what the true mastermind is.”
But the three women lacked too much knowledge to understand what he meant.