Chapter 292

Chapter 292
Chapter 292. Qualification to Hold an Opportunity (8)

—

Plop—
Plop—
Plop—
Watching the moisture, radiating a warm amber glow, descend single droplet by single droplet felt like witnessing a true marvel.
Yet,
“…….”
“……This is taking forever.”
The issue lay in its incredibly sluggish pace.
Granted, it was an enchanting and magnificent spectacle, but the intervals between drops were so drawn out that the novelty quickly wore off.
On top of that, an even more pressing issue arose.
‘Man, my shoulder…….’
The ache in my arm was becoming unbearable.
Because every single speck of the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil was precious, I was forced to keep the container elevated to collect it. Regardless of one’s martial conditioning, maintaining such a posture indefinitely was exhausting.
“Geum-pyo.”
“Understood.”
“I will grant you the privilege of gathering this sacred elixir yourself. Step up and take over.”
“…….”
Geum-pyo glanced between my face and the elevated container before waving his hands in refusal.
“I must decline, Dae-sahyung. A humble practitioner like me shouldn’t presume to handle such a vital responsibility. I really shouldn’t.”
Why are these younger disciples becoming so perceptive lately?
“Get over here and take it before my patience runs out.”
“……Right away! It is a privilege!”
Though his eyes twitched with annoyance, Geum-pyo stepped forward, plastering on a fake grin.
While I rubbed my cramped shoulders and neck with a feeling of contentment, Sa-ryeon watched me with a completely bewildered look.
“Is it truly real? Have we actually secured the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil?”
Even while gazing directly at a miracle one might not encounter in several lifetimes, Sa-ryeon remained entirely stupefied, unable to process the reality.
‘It makes sense…… she was always the one who yearned for the revival and glory of the Tae-eul Sect above all else.’
She was a young woman who had carried an immense burden of obligation for years, convinced that the future of the Tae-eul Sect rested solely on her shoulders.
She chose to carry that crushing pressure entirely by herself, despite no one demanding it of her.
Consequently, her life had been filled with sorrow and hardship.
Having known her circumstances from my previous existence, seeing Sa-ryeon overwhelmed by her feelings provided a quiet sense of reassurance.
“Indeed. The Tae-eul Sect is now the rightful owner of the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil.”
Unbidden, a glassy film covered Sa-ryeon’s eyes.
“And this is merely the beginning of what we will claim later on.”
“…….”
“I shall ensure it happens.”
A moment later, a single, clear tear, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the glistening Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil, spilled over her lashes.
Catching herself, Sa-ryeon hurriedly brushed it away, trying to look composed.
I shifted my gaze to the side, acting completely oblivious to her vulnerability.
Regardless, our long-term prospects for the Tae-eul Sect weren’t the immediate concern.
The most pressing danger lay in making our escape unscathed while carrying the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil.
‘The real trouble is that the dripping process is painfully sluggish.’
We weren’t like the dimwitted members of the Zhongnan Sect, who ended up wasting the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil by leaving their fires burning.
Because we had the foresight to put out our illumination beforehand, we hadn’t wasted a single drop.
Given these conditions, we stood a good chance of filling the container halfway.
However, with the constant threat of Zhongnan forces discovering this location at any moment, there was no telling how much time we actually had left to gather it.
‘With any luck, those idiots will keep wasting time on distractions for a while longer.’
The longer Zhongnan spent trying to bar new intruders from entering the cavern while attempting to flush out the ones already wandering within, the more opportunity we would have to collect a substantial amount of the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil.
A considerable amount of time trickled away.
“……Eun-ho.”
Geum-pyo spoke in a muted whisper. Yet, his call met only silence.
Ultimately.
“Lee…… Eun-ho!”
Geum-pyo hissed out Eun-ho’s full name in a strained, pleading tone, but Eun-ho merely maintained his stubborn act of absolute deafness.
“That absolute jerk…… seriously, did someone seal his speech center? Why! Why on earth is he acting…… like he’s completely deaf.”
“…….”
Witnessing the silent clash of wills between his seniors, Dong-ryong timidly shuffled closer to Geum-pyo.
“Ge-Geum-pyo Hyung, would you like me to take over?”
Geum-pyo cast his eyes down at Dong-ryong, who didn’t even reach his shoulder.
Your pupils are darting around quite nervously, aren’t they?
“Forget it, you’re far too short……”
Exactly, that makes sense. There’s no way he’d force such a young martial brother to do the heavy lifting……
*Shift.*
“……Hey, where do you think you’re aiming those eyes?”
Hearing my sharp rebuke, Geum-pyo quickly pulled back his eyes, which had been sliding over toward Sa-ryeon.
Unfortunately for him, his target had already been spotted.
“Geum-pyo Hyung, that is genuinely underhanded.”
“……Grrr!”
As both Eun-ho and Dong-ryong adopted identical looks of utter disappointment, Geum-pyo barked back defensively.
“Wh-what! What did I do wrong?! I didn’t say a word!”
Just then, Sa-ryeon walked over to the flushed Geum-pyo.
“Pass it to me. I will take a turn.”
“Th-that’s quite alright, Sajeo. You should conserve your strength.”
“If we spill so much as a drop because your arm gives out, do you comprehend the sheer waste? We should rotate.”
“……Well, if it’s only for a brief spell…… thanks.”
Even as they bickering, relishing a brief moment of tranquility they hadn’t experienced in ages.
*Pat, pat, pat.*
An entity registered within my sensory perception (Gigam).
*Leap.*
I sprang to my feet instantly and directed my gaze toward Dong-ryong.
“Dong-ryong!”
“……Pardon?”
His expression remained completely blank.
Yet, the distinct vibration radiating from the individual detected by my sensory perception (Gigam) was far from ordinary.
There was no mistaking that this was the identical pursuer who had been tracking our movements previously.
I scrutinized Dong-ryong’s expression.
‘How is he completely unaware of them this time around?’
As I became briefly lost in speculation, the sound of my title being called broke my concentration.
“Huh?”
“Sahyung?”
Sa-ryeon, who had swapped places with Geum-pyo once more, and Eun-ho walked over to my side.
Indeed, this was hardly the moment to lose myself in idle contemplation.
Sa-ryeon murmured with an air of apprehension.
“Is there trouble?”
“An individual…… is advancing in our direction.”
“Oh?”
“Is it possible they will simply wander past us as they did earlier?”
In response to Sa-ryeon’s suggestion, I gave a firm shake of my head.
“They have locked onto our exact coordinates.”
Otherwise, how could they navigate directly toward our position through such a convoluted maze of tunnels?
“Should we cut our losses and leave with what we have collected?”
A trace of panic flickered across Sa-ryeon’s features.
Granted, it was an unforeseen complication. Even so,
“Absolutely not. Keep gathering the liquid until there is none left.”
Abandoning an invaluable divine panacea that was right in front of me was out of the question.
I turned my attention back to the group and stated firmly.
“I intend to intercept them myself.”
Instantly, my younger martial brothers stepped forward to object, their faces pale with alarm.
“Sahyung! What on earth are you implying!”
“Dae-sahyung! Allow me to fight alongside you.”
“Count me in as well!”
I cocked my head slightly, observing the frantic reactions of my juniors.
What is going on here? Why are they reacting so dramatically?
“This duty falls squarely upon me as the Dae-sahyung.”
As I slowly shook my head in refusal once more, a look of deep conflict filled the eyes of the junior disciples.
‘Wait, why do they look like that……?’
It resembled a gaze brimming with profound admiration mingled with sorrow over their eldest brother’s noble martyrdom.
Making such a grand scene over a single intruder…… oh, wait.
In that exact second, the nature of their misconception dawned on me.
Ah, so that’s the conclusion they jumped to.
Clearing my throat with a brief cough, I elaborated.
“Ahem, regardless of the numbers the Zhongnan Sect throws at us, I shall bar them from setting foot inside this chamber. Therefore…… you must focus entirely on gathering the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil to the last drop.”
Naturally, the confusion stemmed primarily from my failure to specify that the threat consisted of a single individual, but there was little reason to ruin a perfectly good misunderstanding.
After all, why correct it? A single elite warrior can possess the destructive capability of a hundred men, can they not? Ahem.
Right then, Eun-ho, who seemed to have finally regained his capacity for speech, chimed in.
This guy, he must be deeply touched by my selflessness……
“……Dae-sahyung, if you possess such capability, why haven’t you deployed it before now?”
I fixed my eyes on Eun-ho.
“Eun-ho.”
“Yes.”
I articulated each word deliberately.
“It is now your designated shift to hold the vessel for the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil.”
“…….”
I truly despise junior brothers who are entirely too perceptive.

Once I exited the cavern where the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil was dripping and established a reasonable distance, I discharged a volley of sharp sword energy toward the rocky roof above.
*Slash— slash— slash— slash—*
*Rumble— crash— clatter—*
Cleaved rocks and mounds of loose earth collapsed downward, sealing off the slender opening that had remained.
The glowing radiance of the Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil, which had been softly pulsing outward, was entirely obscured, plunging the corridor into total obscurity.
This precaution was executed with the intent that concealing the light source would diminish the likelihood of my companions being uncovered by the enemy.
*Scritch— scritch—*
Striking my flint, I reignited the torch and advanced swiftly toward the path where the unidentified entity was nearing.
By the time the individual’s proximity grew unmistakable and the murderous intent rolling off them became palpable against my skin, I came to a halt to await their arrival.
The traveler, who had been sprinting at an incredible pace, likewise decelerated incrementally after a certain point.
Before long, his quick strides transitioned into a measured walk.
It appeared he anticipated a confrontation with me as well.
With no further reason to conceal my presence, I openly extended my sensory perception to analyze his capabilities.
As the distance was too great to prompt an immediate clash of energy (Gyeok-gi), I could not evaluate his precise combat proficiency, but I could form an approximate deduction utilizing the mental archive of martial experts I had gathered during my previous life.
‘A Hall Master…… or perhaps even higher!’
Given that this was merely an estimation derived from basic sensory perception, the probability remained high that his true capabilities exceeded my guess.
‘In the best-case scenario, he is on par with a Hall Master; in the worst-case scenario, he is an Elder or…….’
For some reason, the fearsome Big Dipper Swordsmen mentioned by Sun-jik Cheol flickered across my thoughts.
I silently prayed that my fortune would not prove to be quite so terrible.
*Thud—*
Shortly thereafter, the heavy echo of a boot heel resounded.
Emerging from the dancing crimson shadows cast by the torchlight was a warrior who appeared, at the very oldest, to be in his mid-thirties.
He carried a gleaming weapon emblazoned with the distinctive mark of the Big Dipper.
‘Damn it, you have got to be kidding me…….’

The Big Dipper Swordsmen (Buk-du Geom-su).
They represented the absolute last line of defense for the Zhongnan Sect.
An elite division that refrained from ever leaving the borders of Zhongnan unless the organization faced total annihilation.
It was often whispered among martial artists that the Big Dipper Swordsmen of Zhongnan functioned as a mechanism for absolute mutual ruin.
The decree of Zhongnan was clear: if one harbored the desire to dismantle Zhongnan, they must resign themselves to perishing alongside it.
‘To encounter a Big Dipper Swordsman in this place, an entity I never crossed paths with even during the ruin of Zhongnan in my prior existence.’
It was an uncanny sensation.
More accurately, it left an unpleasant aftertaste.
Granted, given that their core mandate was the preservation of their sanctuary, it stood to reason that they hadn’t deployed during the historic Great War between Justice and Evil, but still……
It made logical sense, yet encountering such a lethal figure within the depths of the Heavenly Cave remained highly unsettling.
‘The masterminds of Zhongnan are truly relentless, aren’t they?’
*Step—*
The warrior positioned at the mouth of the passage detected my position and advanced deeper into the cavern.
With every stride he took forward, the finer elements of his presentation became clearer under the light.
Indicating he had likely emerged from a rather brutal skirmish, dark crimson splatters marred various sections of his tunic, and fresh, glistening blood continued to track down the metal of his sword, right along the engraved Big Dipper.
Noticing my solitary figure, he scanned the surrounding chamber before knitting his eyebrows together in confusion.
“Are you by yourself?”
I gave a small nod.
“Correct. I am still far too young to consider settling down with a spouse.”
“…….”
*Crackle, snap.*
In the space separating us, only the low, steady sputtering of the burning resin filled the silence.

“I……”
The warrior parted his lips slightly before freezing, his eyes twitching erratically as though he had been completely derailed by my response.
“That was not the intent behind my inquiry.”
“Oh, really? I assumed it might be a customary formality among the disciples of Zhongnan to query one’s marital status upon an initial encounter, which is why I provided an answer.”
Following a brief pause for reflection, he countered.
“I express my regrets for prompting such a misinterpretation.”
……He is actually offering an apology right now?
“Think nothing of it, provided the matter is clarified.”
I dipped my chin slightly, masking my internal bewilderment.
“Allow me to rephrase the question. Where have your associates gone?”
I cocked my head to the side.
“Associates? I crossed the threshold into this place entirely unaccompanied.”
The man’s face twisted into an expression of bewilderment once more.
“In that case…… did you murder the comrades who accompanied you inside?”
What on earth is wrong with this fellow? Could he be lacking basic intelligence?
“Ah, if your query pertains to my former travel partners, our alliance dissolved quite some time ago, and we elected to pursue separate paths independently.”
“…….”
The warrior maintained an intense, scrutinizing gaze upon me for several seconds.
“That is an untruth.”
……So he isn’t entirely brainless after all. Hmph.
Nevertheless, I attempted to reject his claim with absolute conviction once more.
“Whatever do you mean? I am an individual who has maintained absolute honesty throughout my entire existence. Is it deemed appropriate for someone bearing the title of a Taoist of Zhongnan to pass such groundless judgments on another practitioner?!”
When I snarled back at him, he adopted a noticeably hesitant and uncertain demeanor.
“……Could that actually be the case?”
What do you mean, could that be the case?
Seriously, what is the deal with this guy?
“It is absolute fact. I have never uttered a single falsehood in my entire life.”
“Then what is the rationale behind covering your face with a mask?”
“……It is simply because I suffer from severe social anxiety.”
“Ah, I see……”
……He actually swallowed that explanation without a fight.
Damn it, there’s no way this is some incredibly advanced mental strategy, right?
Then, a sudden wave of inquisitiveness washed over me.
And strange as it was, I possessed an intuition that this individual would provide an honest reply.
“Are you genuinely an active Big Dipper Swordsman?”
*Gasp!!!*
The swordsman’s eyelids stretched wide in shock.
Holy crap. What on earth?
“H-how did you uncover my identity?!!!”
“…….”
Was the distinct Big Dipper engraving etched upon his steel not the literal trademark of the Big Dipper Swordsmen?
Did this simpleton truly believe his status as a Big Dipper Swordsman could remain concealed?
“According to my understanding, the Big Dipper Swordsmen never deploy unless the foundation of Zhongnan is threatened by a fatal catastrophe. For what reason have you mobilized simply to acquire a basic spiritual herb?”
Provoked by my mocking tone, his temper flared as he roared out.
“Because the current state of Zhongnan is incredibly critical!”
An expression of horror washed over his own face the moment the proclamation escaped his lips.
“Ah! That was highly confidential!”
“…….”
At this level, I harbored serious reservations regarding the screening process utilized to recruit the Big Dipper Swordsmen in the first place.
The Big Dipper Swordsman continued to whisper frantically to himself, his eyes darting all over the floor.
Shortly after, he compressed his lips firmly as though arriving at an ultimate conclusion.
“I originally resolved to avoid spilling blood within the boundaries of the Heavenly Cave…… however, because you have inadvertently learned a vital piece of intelligence, I am left with no alternative.”
“……That hardly qualifies as a significant piece of intelligence, does it?”
“Regardless, my course of action is locked. Forgive me.”
Son of a gun! It’s not as if I intentionally pried that information out of you!
The warrior, executing the agile Big Dipper Heavenly River Steps, dissolved into thin air in a fraction of a second.
‘Could it be Shifting Forms and Displacing Positions (I-hyeong-hwan-wi)?’
In the next heartbeat, a massive Great Sword materialized directly in front of my face, cleaving the atmosphere.
How was it physically possible for a cumbersome Great Sword to match the velocity of a specialized Fast Sword?
*Boom!*
The instant I frantically raised the Black Dragon Sword to parry the strike, an immense, crushing pressure weighed down upon my stance, as though the entire stone ceiling had caved in on me.
‘What a ridiculous amount of raw power!’
I was well aware that his cultivation surpassed that of Cheon-ji Gun, but the gap separating him from a standard combatant was staggering.
There was a clear rationale behind naming the Big Dipper Swordsmen as the ultimate vanguard.
The reality that an individual who behaved like a complete dimwit possessed such terrifying mastery caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand straight up.
Could that dense facade from moments ago have been a calculated ploy to make me lower my guard?
*Crack! Boom! Crash! Blast Lights!*
With every single strike I deflected, my boots were driven inches deep into the subterranean soil.
I marshaled a massive reserve of internal force, executing the complex movements of the Twin Heaven Sword Secret alongside the agile Small Heaven Sword Technique.
*Whirrrr!*
Amidst a cascade of numerous blade afterimages, lethal thrusts raining down with the speed of thunderbolts targeted his critical pressure points. Yet, his blade style transitioned flawlessly into a counter-stance, safeguarding thirty-six directions simultaneously and deflecting every single incoming pierce.
Because utilizing my signature style risked exposing my true identity, I refrained from deploying the renowned Ten Thousand Swords, opting instead to manifest a brilliant Sword Glow (Geom-gang).
*Hummmm—*
I dispersed the patterns of the Twin Heaven Sword Secret, infusing it with a radiant Sword Glow (Geom-gang) that extended an entire foot past the point of the Black Dragon Sword.
In that pitch-black arena, the dazzling spheres of the Sword Glow (Geom-gang) scattered across the environment, piercing through the gloom.
Yet, despite the manifestation of my Sword Glow (Geom-gang), the blade of the Big Dipper Swordsman remained coated only in dense Sword Qi (Geom-gi).
‘Is he incapable of generating a Sword Glow (Geom-gang)?’
The fleeting assumption that I could overpower him with relative ease vanished in an instant.
He was utilizing the Nine Palaces Divine Movement Sword Technique.
Rather than shielding every coordinate like the traditional Thirty-Six Swords of Heaven, this was a masterful style that neutralized threats while executing strikes by absolute dominance over nine specific zones.
To think his training had advanced to such a degree.
It was only at that juncture I comprehended that it wasn’t an inability to manifest Sword Glow (Geom-gang) holding him back; rather, he simply had no practical requirement for it.
*Clang! Clang! Shatter! Ring!*
Despite relying solely on a style reinforced by standard Sword Qi (Geom-gi), he refused to yield an inch of ground even when meeting the overwhelming energy of my Sword Glow (Geom-gang) head-on.
Immediately after, his weapon descended like a lightning bolt toward the exact coordinate where my Twin Heaven Sword Secret had just dissipated.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
As I defended against each successive blow, the concussive ripples tore through my core, rattling my vital organs.
Though it had been hours since my last meal, a sudden wave of bile rose in the back of my throat.
‘Subduing him? Screw that, who came up with that concept? Is it a luxury I can afford right now?’
It became glaringly obvious why they were revered as the elite unit forged through the pinnacle of Zhongnan’s secret training methods.
Perhaps I should count my blessings that I hadn’t crossed paths with the entire council of the seven Big Dipper Swordsmen.
After all, the remaining members were bound to be far older and possess vastly superior martial foundations compared to this individual.
Short of unleashing my absolute maximum potential, overpowering him would be an impossibility.
However, if I fought without restraint, identifiable signatures would inevitably remain at the scene.
Had I possessed even a modicum of information regarding his specific capabilities from my time in the Great War between Justice and Evil, I would have avoided engaging him directly at all costs.
‘Hold on a second…….’
Suddenly, an ingenious solution materialized in my thoughts.
While I couldn’t determine his precise parameters, this adversary appeared to outclass Il-gak while falling short of Geum-hak Je.
Under those parameters.
‘This situation could actually work to my benefit.’
Given his exceptional level of cultivation, he wouldn’t perish immediately even if I applied an excessive amount of force.
‘Perhaps I should place my wagers on the resilience of Zhongnan’s training?’
By sheer coincidence, I retained a specific style that permitted the discharge of immense destructive energy without betraying my true affiliations.
Even as my thoughts raced to formulate a plan, the stifling pressure of the Universe Light-Dividing Sword radiating from his weapon began to constrict around my frame.
In contrast to the Thirty-Six Swords of Heaven which focused on safeguarding thirty-six paths, the lethal Universe Light-Dividing Sword locked down eighteen vectors surrounding the target, completely paralyzing their ability to maneuver.
Deploying the intricate footwork of the Tae-eul Eighty Thousand Divine Steps, I barely managed to slip away from his suffocating assault.
Simultaneously, I executed the rapid strikes of the Ten Thousand Flowers Matchless Fist to force a gap between us and bellowed out in his direction.
“Hold on! Permit me a single final statement before the conclusion!”
“A…… a final testament?”
He paused mid-motion.
“Come on, we’re at the finish line here, surely you can afford me that small courtesy?”
After considering the request briefly, he gave an approving nod.
It appeared he genuinely believed my demise by his hand was a certainty.
“Speak your piece.”
And in that brief window of his hesitation.
“My wish is…… that you refrain from dying or sustaining a permanent injury. I merely hope you suffer sufficient impact to safely lose consciousness.”
I gathered my inner reserves, maximizing my cultivation to its absolute threshold.
“That is your final testam— wait, what?!”
Who ever claimed it was my final testament?
The Big Dipper Swordsman, registering the sudden shift in atmosphere, scrambled forward to close the distance, but…… his reaction arrived far too late.
White Moon Ascending Heaven Three Styles.
First Form.
‘Extreme Speed’
The blade swept through the void, immediately followed by the high-pitched shriek of ruptured atmosphere.
*Screeech—*
The Big Dipper Swordsman, recognizing the fatal danger, frantically brought his weapon up to parry, but the strike had already bypassed his guard.
*Slash—*
A solitary, deep laceration manifested across his torso, and a crimson torrent erupted outward like a geyser.
“You…… you deceitful scoundrel…… you claimed it was your final……”
Indeed. Your final moments of consciousness.
*Thud—*
The Big Dipper Swordsman dropped heavily to the stone floor, bearing the utterly betrayed look of a toddler left behind by his guardians.
Sigh. Why must you adopt such a pitiful countenance? It genuinely makes me feel as though I am the villain in this scenario.