Chapter 494

Chapter 494
## Chapter 494. Shadow of the Setting Sun (7)

—

The Murim Alliance opened applications for a group to explore the Sword Tomb, attracting more than a thousand hopefuls in a remarkably brief timeframe. Although they sparked widespread dissatisfaction by choosing under a hundred candidates, the Murim Alliance managed to calm the public backlash by promising that more spots would be available in subsequent recruitment phases.

Intense disapproval arose from critics claiming the open call was simply a deceptive strategy for the Murim Alliance to shirk liability for whatever happened to individuals. Nevertheless, those proud martial artists who fell victim to the mockery of the accepted applicants—who sneered, “Are you using a conspiracy theory to mask your own failure?”—preferred to drown their frustration in spirits instead of turning it into a widespread controversy.

Consequently, the initial scouting party, comprised of the Murim Alliance’s internal martial pavilions alongside the chosen candidates, departed for Gansu Province. Simultaneously, numerous factions from the **Huk-do** (Dark Path) Murim began journeying toward Gansu Province as well. The **Sa-huk** Alliance refrained from making any official declarations regarding the Sword Tomb, and because this circle was filled with rogue elements acting on whim, countless unbridled martial artists from the **Huk-do** Murim rushed forward like untamed stallions, enticed by the treasure of the Sword Tomb as though it were a prize hanging right before them.

As a massive influx of travelers surged toward Gansu Province, local merchants operating in the area or conducting business along the Silk Road accumulated immense wealth, yet this development did not sit well with every observer.

“The Sword Tomb? The idea that such a place even exists is completely ridiculous, is it not? Think about how tirelessly the bloodlines of the **Sword Zenith** and the **Black King** hunted for whatever those masters left behind!”

“To put it bluntly, two supreme masters who ruled the righteous and wicked factions of the Murim two centuries back vanished at the exact same moment, and we are supposed to believe they are resting quietly side by side in a grave?”

A segment of the martial world flatly rejected the claim that the Sword Tomb was real.

“But what about the map showing the location? Rumor has it that its precise coordinates are written within the encrypted symbols on it.”

“This is driving me completely insane. My good friend, think about the sheer volume of these guides that every ordinary street dweller seems to possess lately. Where did they come from? Why on earth would a legendary chart fall so easily into the hands of commoners like us? It is simple: it ended up here because it is a complete fabrication.”

“*Heheh*, that makes sense. I even heard word of vendors setting up small tables to distribute duplicated copies right on the street. Supposedly, they are charging a single silver piece per map.”

Due to the sudden flood of these directional charts being sold openly everywhere, a large number of people grew highly skeptical of the tales surrounding the Sword Tomb. Yet, just as the widespread gossip was beginning to subside.

*Boom!*

A thunderous blast reverberated through the air, powerful enough to threaten to tear down the entire peak.

“Good heavens!”

“It—it is actually real! It truly exists!”

“The Sword Tomb! We found the Sword Tomb!!!”

The actual location of the Sword Tomb was finally revealed amidst the Great Snow Mountain of Gansu Province.

—

Following a prolonged vacancy, the seat of the Pavilion Master of the **Cheon-mok-gak** was at last occupied once more, allowing the faction to restore its regular operations. Immediately, a massive backlog of intelligence reports poured into the office like an overwhelming wave. Because the timing of these transmissions had become completely jumbled, highly ridiculous scenarios occurred where news stating “The scout has arrived at the location” would be received long before the notification indicating “The scout has set out for the location” arrived.

Consequently, the personnel of the **Cheon-mok-gak** worked through successive nights to clear out the massive accumulation of tasks, a chaotic spillover that inevitably impacted the **Man-tong-bu** and caused severe exhaustion among its workers.

“**Eun-ho**, are you holding up?”

Noticing that **Cheol Sun-jik**’s gaze was staring intently at the space right below his nostrils, **Eun-ho** reached up to check. He immediately noticed a wet sensation.

“……!”

He was startled to see fresh crimson fluid coating his fingertips.

“Unbelievable… I didn’t even experience a nosebleed like this back when I underwent the harshest physical training.”

“…Perhaps you should take a brief break?”

“If I do, then why are you forcing yourself to push through by practicing meditation every two *shijins*, **Cheol**-hyung?”

“……”

Neither man was in a healthy state, yet the circumstances simply did not allow them the luxury of stepping away from their duties.

“Sigh… if we weren’t dealing with this crisis in Gansu Province, things wouldn’t be nearly this stressful.”

**Cheol Sun-jik** collapsed into his seat, propping his aching forehead with his hands. On the bright side, because the **Yongbong-jihoe** had concluded its review without further hitches, their overall responsibilities had noticeably lightened. While extra monitoring would still be required, that burden would fall to the Inspection Bureau down the line. Regardless, a fresh set of orders was dropped onto their desks just as they were hoping for a respite from their relentless workload.

“Everyone, observe this piece of paper carefully. This represents the guide currently flooding the local stalls. It seems incredibly dubious upon a cursory look, does it not? Knowing that, what is your next course of action?”

These were the instructions delivered by Department Head **Maeng Ju-won** to the exhausted **Man-tong-bu** staff just as they were preparing to head home for the evening. Left with no choice, the grumbling operatives had to put down their belongings and return to their desks, swearing under their breath. They simply could not turn a blind eye to such a bizarre anomaly sweeping across the entirety of the Jianghu.

However, what they initially dismissed as a massive fraudulent scheme designed for a quick profit quickly spiraled into a far more intricate puzzle when the genuine site of the Sword Tomb was located within the Great Snow Mountain.

“Unbelievable! Have you still not uncovered the identity of the person responsible or the motive behind distributing these maps? How can you call yourselves elites of the **Man-tong-bu** while performing this poorly!”

Tasked with deciphering the underlying purpose of a completely enigmatic operation, the investigators of the **Man-tong-bu** were pushed to the brink of insanity.

“**Cheol**-hyung, doesn’t this strike you as deeply bizarre? Think about it—if an individual actually possessed the authentic guide, they would keep it to themselves, venture into the Sword Tomb alone, claim the riches, or meet their end inside in secret. What could possibly motivate someone to mass-produce the document and peddle it to the public?”

Historically, the discovery of a fabled map had always triggered vicious slaughter throughout the Jianghu rather than widespread confusion via mass distribution, making it nearly impossible for anyone to comprehend the logic behind the current events.

“To add to that, gaze upon this finding. Word has it that merchants are practically giving these away at street-side stalls now. Apparently, a single copper piece buys you a pair of copies. What sort of legendary treasure map gets treated like garbage?”

“It defies all logic.”

Regardless of how deeply they analyzed the phenomenon, the reality of the situation remained utterly baffling.

“To imagine that a second individual with the peculiar mind of **Dan-ju Jin** exists out there…”

“Pardon?”

Hearing **Cheol Sun-jik**’s murmur, **Eun-ho** froze mid-sentence.

“Hmm? What is the matter?”

“It is regarding your recent remark…”

“*Mmm*? Ah! I just said it because I couldn’t make an expectation. If you think I was cursing **Dan-ju Jin**, do not misunderstand…”

“No, that is not what I mean at all!”

**Eun-ho** leaned closer, dropping his voice to a soft murmur.

“This entire uproar… is it possible that our **Dae-sa-hyeong** is the mastermind behind it?”

**Eun-ho** spoke with deep conviction, his tone thick with suspicion.

“……”

**Cheol Sun-jik**’s face stiffened into an expression resembling a carved stone statue. Was his junior merely having wild thoughts due to severe sleep deprivation, or was it because **Jin So-un**’s typical antics were genuinely that unpredictable?

“*Haha*, you have a wild imagination.”

“Think about it… even considering he is the **Dae-sa-hyeong**… is it possible he hid this from us?”

It raised a question about the absolute lack of standard trust **Jin So-un** commanded among his disciples—or perhaps it was a bizarre form of faith, given their immediate assumption that he was fully capable of such a scheme.

“Knowing the tendencies of **Dan-ju Jin** as I do… I believe he would have immediately attempted to slip into the Sword Tomb by himself the very instant he laid eyes on the map.”

“Or… could he have distributed them precisely because he realized they were counterfeit?”

Even though the physical location of the Sword Tomb had been verified in the Great Snow Mountain, subsequent updates indicated that nothing of value had been found within. This intelligence reached headquarters ahead of the Murim Alliance’s primary scouting party, prompting the leadership to debate whether they should call the expedition back entirely.

“……”

**Cheol Sun-jik** found himself completely unable to determine whether **Lee Eun-ho**’s intense skepticism was born of pure exhaustion or if it was a logical reaction to **Jin So-un**’s standard reputation.

“You look entirely spent. Why don’t you rest your eyes for a brief moment?”

“No, look at the evidence! If we lodge a formal complaint with the Inspection Bureau and subject him to a bit of interrogation down in the Geum-ok prison, I am confident that even if our **Dae-sa-hyeong** is an eccentric—sorry, an exceptional individual—he would readily confess to every single misdeed…”

“?!”

**Cheol Sun-jik**, intending to cut off his companion’s dangerous train of thought, suddenly recoiled and retreated two steps in sheer shock as he noticed a figure looming directly behind **Eun-ho**.

“Am I wrong, **Cheol**-hyung? As the saying goes, ‘confessions flow like water.’ A mere *shijin* of proper water treatment would have him listing even his grandfather’s personal quirks…”

“Whose grandfather’s personal quirks are you so eager to uncover?”

“!!!”

**Eun-ho** spun around, frozen in sheer panic.

“**Dae—Dae-sa-hyeong**!!!”

“What exactly are you occupied with that you completely failed to sense my approach?”

“Oh, uh, well, you see…”

**Eun-ho**’s eyes darted frantically toward **Cheol Sun-jik** for assistance before he quickly stood at attention, straightening his spine.

“What business brings you to this office? The **Man-tong-bu** is a secure environment dealing with sensitive intelligence, meaning unauthorized individuals are strictly prohibited…”

“I hold the rank of Hall Master for the **Yoseong-dang**, an entity operating under the immediate authority of the **Man-tong-bu**. Therefore, I am hardly an unauthorized person.”

“Then… what exactly do you require from us?”

“When can I expect the allocation of my personnel? A Hall Master requires actual staff members to execute assignments properly. I am currently forced to brew my own tea and draft documents completely unassisted; what sort of administrative leader lives like this?”

“……”

With their current workload reaching a boiling point, **Jin So-un**’s childish demands for assistants to serve as his personal hands and feet struck them as utterly preposterous. In fact, a wave of genuine irritation, almost akin to a desire to strike him down, welled up inside them. Did this frustrating **Dae-sa-hyeong** possess even a shred of awareness regarding the intense pressure the **Man-tong-bu** was currently under?

**Eun-ho**’s responded, his tone heavy with barely suppressed annoyance.

“Understood. The paperwork has been forwarded, but the higher-ups have yet to approve the roster of candidates. Would it be possible for you to exercise patience for a bit longer?”

**Cheol Sun-jik** stared at **Eun-ho** in absolute awe of his restraint, though the compliance was entirely rational. After all, their **Dae-sa-hyeong**’s physical retribution was far swifter and considerably more agonizing than any bureaucratic penalty the Murim Alliance could enforce.

“Is that the case? Well, putting that aside for a moment. Is there any word on a secondary exploration group being sent out? The **Yoseong-dang** intends to be a part of it.”

“What reason do you have to travel out there?”

“It is the legendary Sword Tomb. Is it not completely expected that a martial artist would wish to lay eyes on it?”

“……”

**Eun-ho** exchanged a quick look with **Cheol Sun-jik**. Had his initial hypothesis been incorrect?

“As of this moment, there are no arrangements to deploy a second group. In fact, the leadership is heavily considering recalling the first party back to base.”

“*Hmm*, so that’s how it is.”

With those words, **Jin So-un** reached into his garments and produced a set of papers.

“What exactly is this?”

“Think of it as an overview concerning the developments at the Sword Tomb. I have provided a concise analysis of the current anomalies alongside projections for what lies ahead.”

“A concise analysis?”

“Ensure this reaches the leadership immediately. Furthermore, expedite the assignment of my staff. It is an immense hassle to constantly fetch and heat water by myself.”

Just as **Jin So-un** concluded his remarks and turned to depart, his eyes caught sight of an open folder resting on the desktop. He glared at the text intently, as though trying to burn holes through the parchment. Suddenly, he erupted.

“Unbelievable, those absolute scoundrels—! They actually have the audacity to produce unauthorized duplications? Do they have any idea of the financial loss involved here!”

The paperwork he had snatched up was the specific file documenting how bootleg prints of the map were being traded at street markets.

“……!”
Destination reached:
“……!”

**Cheol Sun-jik** and **Lee Eun-ho** instantly locked eyes. Just as they were simultaneously about to shout out to **Jin So-un**.

“A single copper coin for a pair of charts? Splendid, let us find out exactly how low they can drop the value!”

Uttering a completely incomprehensible threat, **Jin So-un** vanished from the room as swiftly as a sudden breeze.

“Should we inform the Inspection Bureau…”

“Let us act as though we heard absolutely nothing.”

“However…”

“Filing a report means we will be dragged into a convoluted investigation all over again. Do you truly possess the stamina for that right now?”

“……”

*Slide—*

**Eun-ho** halted his movement immediately. The two men looked at one another across the room and silently agreed, nodding in perfect unison. They were far too exhausted to muster any righteous fervor or pursue administrative justice.

—

“Have you caught wind of the rumors regarding a **Bokma-gwangin**?”

While the general populace of the Jianghu remained completely captivated by the latest developments at the Sword Tomb, a subtle undercurrent of disorder persisted elsewhere. Though kept hidden from the masses, whispers circulated that individuals identified as **Bokma-gwangin** were being uncovered here and there of late.

“It is a profoundly terrifying matter. My own household has begun discreetly looking into the situation behind closed doors.”

Reflecting on his previous existence, where no trace of such entities appeared until the catastrophic War of Righteousness and Demons broke out, the timeline of this current life was cybernetics moving in a distinct direction. Most notably, these troubling events appeared to be expanding rapidly, focusing primarily on highly influential and renowned clans. Leaving aside the reality that they brought disgrace upon themselves by bringing in unvetted outsiders, the actual problem lay in the mounting domestic conflict caused by members baselessly pointing fingers and accusing one another of being a **Bokma-gwangin**.

*‘Could this internal discord be exactly what they are plotting?’*

The fragmentation within the Orthodox Path would ultimately serve as a perfect advantage for the Demonic Cult to exploit. Even though I believed I had significantly disrupted their operations up to this point, their overall drive showed absolutely no indications of slowing down. Naturally, I am not the type to yield easily. I intend to keep fighting stubbornly until I can no longer stand.

Having recently dispatched an update to **Jegal So-myeong**, my only option now was to remain patient until they bit into the trap.

“Understood. Then, is **Sunbae Dang** completely clear of being a **Bokma-gwangin**?”

**Dang Seo-hee**, who was currently enjoying a confection, placed her treat holder down and slowly shifted her gaze toward me with a rigid expression.

“Do I… truly appear as **Sunbae Dang** in your eyes?”

She spoke in a deep, hushed whisper, though it lacked any real menace. Rather, the sight of her oversized sleeves hanging down gave off a charming impression. I carefully rolled up her sleeves for her and spoke.

“Seeing as my schedule is packed at the moment, would you mind taking your leave since you have finished your snack? I am expecting a arrival shortly.”

At long last, the inaugural assistant… apologize, the initial official staff member of the **Yoseong-dang** was about to arrive. While I felt deeply disgruntled that my new team consisted of a single individual, it was vastly superior to remaining completely alone. From this moment onward, I would be spared the annoyance of stepping out to heat water myself, nor would I be required to fetch my own light refreshments. What was the reason? Because I had finally attained the status of a Hall Master equipped with an assistant… sorry, a legitimate staff member.

“An arrival? I was under the impression that the **Yoseong-dang** had not officially commenced its standard activities.”

“*He-he-he*, it is not an external visitor today. Rather, it is someone from within our own ranks. Today marks the arrival of a helper who will handle all my tedious chores… sorry, manage my daily errands.”

“??? …Are you referring to an assigned staff member?”

“Well, if one were compelled to utilize official terminology, I suppose that would be the designation.”

The feeling was genuinely overwhelming. An actual subordinate. Throughout my previous life, I was treated as nothing but a common helper regardless of where I ended up. At last, after enduring two complete lifetimes, a genuine underling of my own had materialized.

*‘Heheh, I must put in the effort and treat them kindly from time to time. It would be a disaster if they decided to resign.’*

I promptly motioned for **Dang Seo-hee** to leave.

“Alright, you should head back now. I simply do not have the leisure to keep you company today.”

However.

“If you are referring to your new staff member, they arrived quite some time ago.”

At her leisurely words, my entire frame locked up instantly, as though I had been struck by a powerful freezing technique.

“…S-surely…”

**Dang Seo-hee** settled herself right back into her chair with absolute composure, offering a slight nod. With a thoroughly dignified countenance—could it truly be…

“I am that very individual assigned to the **Yoseong-dang**, **Dang Seo-hee**.”

“……”

“The sweetness has left my throat feeling quite parched. Please prepare some tea for me.”

The supposed helper—no, the formidable senior figure—was currently peering at me, tilting her head with a blank blink.

“Can this… actually be happening…?”

As I struggled to accept the devastating reality, **Dang Seo-hee** prompted me by lightly clinking her vacant porcelain cup against the wooden surface.

“Hall Master, why are you simply standing there?”

“Ha—ha-ha…”

I found it utterly impossible to comprehend how such a demanding demeanor could be directed at an actual leader. What sort of subordinate acts in this manner?