Chapter 496

Chapter 496
## Chapter 496. The Beginning of the Night (1)

—

The instant I caught my first glimpse of the pathway into the Sword Tomb, a nagging skepticism arose within me regarding its dimensions, which appeared far narrower than I had anticipated. Granted, it easily eclipsed the typical caverns one might stumble upon near a local village, yet there was no denying its scale felt entirely inadequate for a resting place meant to house two transcendent figures of legend.

Still, the luxury of dwelling on such reservations did not last long.

“Hey, don’t cut the line, you scoundrel!”

“How dare you speak to me with such vulgarity! Do you have any idea who stands before you?”

“Who cares if you belong to the Murim Alliance?! Get to the back of the line like everyone else!”

A massive tide of humanity was relentlessly forcing its way through that single bottleneck. To make matters worse, word was filtering back from the vanguard that the interior of the Sword Tomb stretched out far more grandly than anyone had bargained for, forcing early entrants to retreat to the surface just to stock up on additional rations. Because of these hordes frantically packing heavier provisions for a prolonged trek before plunging back inside, the entrance to the Sword Tomb had degenerated into absolute bedlam.

“Ha… just how massive is this place?”

Yet, the instant one crossed the threshold into the belly of the Sword Tomb, the environment underwent a staggering transformation. The roof of the cavern, which commenced at a mere height of one *jang*, abruptly vaulted upward to three *jang*, and in the deeper recesses, it occasionally dilated into immense subterranean chambers soaring five *jang* high. Confronted by such monumental proportions, any lingering notion that this was just an ordinary cave vanished completely.

“**Do**-hyeong, keep your wits about you. Word is that quite a few people have already been butchered by those hypocritical Orthodox bastards in sudden ambushes further down these tunnels.”

The piece of advice was delivered with a rough shove of a shoulder, deliberately provocative, but **Do Gwang-su** forced himself to swallow his rising ire. In the past, he had always operated as a lone wolf when hunting for hidden riches, but after a brush with death during a chaotic skirmish against Orthodox martial artists near the border of Gansu Province, he simply lacked the nerve to venture into the dark alone. Consequently, he had hitched his wagon to a larger contingent during the trek to Gansu Province.

*‘Though the ones I truly need to watch my back around are these very bastards.’*

This twenty-man syndicate, originally patched together from three or four separate factions, carried the constant, volatile threat of mutual betrayal at any given second. Even so, he tolerated their proximity because they maintained a tacit understanding to support one another until the spoils were actually uncovered. To put it plainly, he fully intended to desert them and make a run for it the moment any real prize materialized.

Over the course of roughly two days spent investigating the depths of the Sword Tomb, the realization hit him that the sheer scale of the labyrinth was far more immense and complex than anyone had calculated. Countless intersecting tunnels existed that weren’t marked on any treasure map; navigating this abyss without a guide of some sort was a surefire recipe for a slow death.

“Hold on! Hold up! This is a dead end. According to the charts, to reach the sector where the **Paewang** Saber was unearthed, we should have made a right turn back at the fork.”

Staring blankly at a solid wall of stone that completely blocked their advance, the members of the party simultaneously reached into their shirts to pull out their respective treasure maps.

*‘Curse it all.’*

Witnessing this, **Do Gwang-su** felt a familiar wave of nausea wash over him. His original, authentic treasure map had been violently wrested from him by a band of masked assailants who had stalked his movements through Sichuan Province. Devastated but desperate, he had happened upon a map inscribed on bamboo slats at a dusty curio shop he visited on a whim, instantly convincing himself that the hidden legacy of the Sword Tomb was fated to be his.

He had liquidated his entire net worth—amounting to eighty silver pieces—on the spot to secure that bamboo map, and to ensure it wouldn’t be stolen a second time, he had traveled exclusively via treacherous mountain ridges under the cover of night to reach Gansu Province, only to find—

“…**Kang**-hyeong, how much did that chart set you back?”

“Me? I got fleeced a bit, paid a single copper coin. Those greedy merchants jacked the prices sky-high the moment news broke about the **Paewang** Saber.”

Throughout Gansu Province, identical maps were being hawked on every street corner for a solitary copper coin.

“Hold on, **Do**-hyeong, your map looks a bit unique? What did you shell out for that one?”

“…I picked it up for five silver coins.”

“Five silver pieces?! **Do**-hyeong, you got taken for a massive ride. Imagine throwing away five silver coins on that junk.”

**Do Gwang-su** shoved the bamboo slats back into his robes, his features contorted in bitterness. His entire life had been defined by pilfering from others and pulling off slick deceptions. This marked the absolute first time he had found himself on the receiving end of such a monumental swindle.

Regardless, the deeper penetration of the Sword Tomb pushed onward. As they navigated the winding subterranean arteries, they routinely crossed paths with factions from both the Orthodox sects and the **Huk-do** underworld, but the groups merely maintained a rigid, bristling vigilance, avoiding outright conflict. Everyone was far too focused on claiming the prize first.

By the seventh day, deep within the heart of the Sword Tomb, the fractures of discontent began to split open. Weeks of deprivation from natural sunlight, coupled with wretched sleeping arrangements and dwindling rations, had pushed everyone’s tempers to a knife-edge.

“Damn it all, is this miserable hole genuinely the final resting place of the **Sword Zenith** and the **Black King**? No matter how much I look at it, it’s nothing but a glorified ditch.”

“Seriously, even if there was a treasure trove to begin with, would there be anything left with this many vultures picking at the carcass?”

At this point, they were bumping into rival bands every few hours, an incredibly dense concentration of rivals given how deep they were within the treacherous confines of the Sword Tomb. Right at that moment, the distinct sound of frantic footsteps echoing from the corridor they had just vacated reached their ears.

“Form up! Prepare for an attack!”

Without needing an explicit command, weapons were unsheathed in a flash as the men mobilized their internal reserves, fixing their gazes intently on the rear tunnel. In that tense second, the figures sprinting toward them skidded to a halt and threw up their open palms.

“Easy, easy, lower your blades. If you’re looking to charge ahead, be our guest, otherwise clear the path a bit.”

Taking in their mismatched attire and brutal, unpolished armaments, the group instantly recognized them as ruffians of the **Huk-do** underworld and eased their stances.

“What’s the meaning of rushing like a pack of wild dogs? I nearly took your heads off.”

“Took our heads… I highly doubt you possess the martial skill to manage that.”

“What did you say? You arrogant prick!”

“Hey, cut it out, calm down. The only reason we’re sprinting like madmen is because word just reached us that the **Bogwang-sinbi-geom** (Mysterious Sword of Precious Light) belonging to the **Sword Zenith** has finally been unearthed.”

“The **Bogwang-sinbi-geom** has been revealed?!”

“Exactly. Now, are you going to step aside, or are you planning to lead the charge?”

There was no further need for discussion. The confirmation that the legendary artifacts of both the **Black King** and the **Sword Zenith** were actively being uncovered served as definitive proof that this labyrinth was indeed the genuine Sword Tomb. **Do Gwang-su** and his cohorts began sprinting through the subterranean passageways like men possessed. Even as they descended into the absolute bowels of the earth, the suffocating density of the crowds showed no signs of thinning, fueled by the spreading wildfire of the rumor surrounding the **Bogwang-sinbi-geom**.

“Keep your eyes peeled on the rock faces and the ground beneath your feet. If you let panic dictate your pace just because others are overtaking us, you’re going to overlook the obvious.”

*Thud, thud.*

**Do Gwang-su**, who possessed a wealth of experience plundering ancient burial sites, recognized the distinct hollow resonance echoing from a particular section of the stone wall.

*‘There’s a hidden space behind this.’*

Just as he was wrestling with the dilemma of whether to disclose this find to his companions or keep it to himself, a hand clamped down onto **Do Gwang-su**’s wrist with ghostly precision.

“What did you just stumble upon?”

“…*Uh*, nothing?”

Noticing **Do Gwang-su**’s evasive demeanor, the companion didn’t hesitate; he drove his clenched fist directly into the rock face **Do Gwang-su** had been inspecting.

*Shatter.*

As a cascade of fractured stone fell away, the intricate components of an ancient mechanical mechanism revealed themselves from the recess.

“What do we have here…”

“There’s a hidden apparatus embedded in the wall?”

“What does it operate?”

The men crowded around, shoving one another to inspect the hidden gears, though none among them possessed the expertise to identify its purpose. Neither could anyone discern the method required to trigger it.

“It doesn’t appear to control anything of immediate significance.”

Nevertheless, the discovery solidified their conviction that invaluable treasures lay buried within the heart of this Sword Tomb.

“Listen here, **Do**-hyeong.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t get any bright ideas about keeping anything for yourself. Do that, and you’ll find your belly sliced wide open from hip to hip.”

…“When have I ever kept spoils for myself?”

“Just make sure it stays that way.”

Following that bone-chilling admonition, the dynamics within the group shifted drastically. Their gazes frequently locked onto **Do Gwang-su**—a man they had previously treated as invisible—and they took deliberate care to sandwich him directly in the center of their formation whenever they marched. The paranoia reached such an extent that when he stepped away into the shadows to relieve himself, an designated guard trailed him closely, sending a cold shiver down his spine.

Sensing imminent peril, **Do Gwang-su** attempted to quietly distance himself from the crew, but they tightly restricted his movements.

“**Do**-hyeong, you used to be a common thief, didn’t you? Judging by how quickly you spotted that hidden mechanism, you clearly possess an eye for this work. Since we’ve made it this far together without issue, let’s keep working as a team. Don’t go harboring any foolish ideas of striking out alone.”

“……”

Faced with their predatory, unblinking stares that made his blood run cold, **Do Gwang-su** completely abandoned any illusions of escape.

*‘Did I willingly climb onto the back of a wolf without realizing it?’*

The very fools he had intended to exploit and discard at his convenience were instead planning to milk **Do Gwang-su** for all he was worth before tossing him aside. Furthermore, as the days bled together, he noticed them huddling in whispered conferences, casting sharp glances in his direction, making it devastatingly clear to **Do Gwang-su** that he was entirely trapped.

“Did you check that section thoroughly?”

His existence had devolved into a grueling routine of tapping on freezing stone faces and uneven floors all day long to check for hidden mechanisms. Pushed past his breaking point by the injustice of being the sole laborer, he snapped back aggressively.

“I already told you it’s clear! How many damn times do I have to repeat myself before it sinks into your thick skull?”

“Why, you miserable little bastard… who do you think you’re snapping at?”

“…N-No, I didn’t mean anything by it. I was merely stating a fact.”

“Hey, do you take me for some kind of joke? Do you?”

Preceded by a barrage of foul insults, a brutal beating commenced, raining down on him continuously until just before their evening meal.

*‘Curse them…’*

A murderous resentment festered within his chest at the audacity of these **Huk-do** thugs who now treated him as nothing more than a slave, yet **Do Gwang-su** was entirely powerless to alter his circumstances. As he sat huddled in the dark, clutching his hollow stomach and nursing his throbbing bruises—

*Clang—*

Accompanied by the distinct ring of a blade sliding from its sheath, a silhouette materialized from the gloom, approaching their position with heavy, measured steps.

“Who the hell is that?”

“Is that lunatic out of his mind?”

The moment their eyes adjusted to the approaching figure—a manic entity with wild, matted hair, shredded garments, and a torso drenched in fresh gore—the **Huk-do** bandits instantly drew their weapons in unison.

“Back off, damn you! Don’t take another step! Identify yourself!”

In response, the maddened soul spat out a delirious, fragmented vow.

“I shall wash away the slaughter and the bitter grievances of my fallen brother in a torrent of your blood!”

The crazed warrior, completely unhinged, lunged directly into the thick of the **Huk-do** group, unleashing wild torrents of internal force.

“Curse it! Hold him back!”

“Cut him down!”

Though they ultimately managed to butcher the madman, the cost was severe; four of the **Huk-do** thugs were caught off guard by the erratic swordplay and perished miserably on the spot.

“Damn it… what the hell just happened?”

“Didn’t that maniac babble something about a grudge and an enemy?”

“Who on earth did that lunatic mistake us for?”

Deep down, **Do Gwang-su** felt a quiet spark of grim satisfaction seeing that the specific thug who had beaten him earlier was now a corpse. Nonetheless, he took meticulous care to mask his expression, terrified that the surviving members might catch a glimpse of his joy and vent their rage on him.

“What’s the plan for these bodies?”

“Leave the lunatic… but what about our guys?”

“They belonged to your specific crew. You lot can bury them.”

Suddenly, an unsettling realization washed over him.

“Why waste the energy digging graves? Just leave them where they fell. We’re already inside a massive tomb anyway, so it’s fitting enough.”

“……”

Not a single person among the survivors expressed even a shred of grief for their fallen comrades.

“Now that I think about it, this bastard definitely had a stash of high-value bank notes concealed somewhere on his person.”

What proved even more chilling was that even the men who had shared a faction with the deceased showed no signs of sorrow or reverence. Instead, they were already eagerly shoving their hands into the robes of the fresh corpses, greedily rummaging around in search of coin pouches and credit slips.

“ Jackpot! Found it!”

“Hey! That dead bastard owed me a substantial debt. Hand over a share of that!”

“Screw off, he’s mine now.”

Even allowing for the ruthless nature of the **Huk-do** underworld, could they truly be so devoid of basic human decency? No, it felt as though something fundamental had warped within their minds.

“!”

As **Do Gwang-su** instinctively tried to steal away into the shadows, the remaining **Huk-do** thugs whipped their heads around in perfect unison to face him.

*Gleam.*

Deep within their pupils, an eerie, crimson light flared to life for a split second before dissolving back into the darkness.

“U-Uwaaaaah!”

Overwhelmed by pure terror, **Do Gwang-su** turned on his heel to sprint away with everything he had.

“Where do you think you’re going, rat!”

The thug who had just finished stripping the dead man’s pockets lunged forward, effectively cutting off **Do Gwang-su**’s escape route.

“It seems this pathetic brat needs another lesson in manners.”

Just as he braced himself for what he assumed would be a fatal beating, **Do Gwang-su** caught sight of it—an impenetrable, suffocating shadow rising directly behind the man blocking his path.

“B-Behind… look behind you…”

“What are you babbling about, you piece of—!”

The descending arm of the thug was cleanly severed from his torso in a single, fluid motion, as if it were nothing more than a twig.

“Eh?”

The mutilated bandit only realized his limb was missing when his eyes locked onto the stump leaking blood.

“W-What is this madness!”

An immense, monstrous entity unhinged its maw, devouring the screaming man whole in a single, horrific gulp.

*Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!*
*Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!*
*Crash! Crash! Crash!*

The onlookers who had just been cheering on the assault frantically swung their sabers and unleashed desperate bursts of palm energy, but the colossal monstrosity paid the attacks no heed, effortlessly swallowing the man down its gullet.

*Growl—*

Blinking its foul-smelling, vertically slit eyes, the massive creature shifted its weight. With every micro-movement it made, severed hands, feet, and heads belonging to the **Huk-do** bandits cascaded *thump, thud* onto the cold stone floor.

It was a grotesque, unnatural spectacle unlike anything he had ever witnessed, accompanied by a suffocating, malevolent aura that defied comprehension. Staring paralyzed at that absolute ‘abomination,’ **Do Gwang-su** recognized the truth in his very bones.

That entity was the literal manifestation of ‘Death.’ And ‘Death’ had just walked into the room.