novelraw Chapter 100 : Entry into the Tiger’s Den (5)
Chapter 100 : Entry into the Tiger’s Den (5)
Chapter 100: Entry into the Tiger’s Den (5)
The night wind swept across the mountain range.
Gugwi settled himself in the shaded area behind a boulder. The moonlight softly illuminated his shoulders.
With his fingertips, he gently brushed the worn leather cover of the Soul Echo Manual.
It had been a long time since he had last touched the secret text… the Soul Echo Manual that reacted to the current state of the Spirit Flow Core… With a faint rustling sound, the book opened. A subtle scent of mold rose from the aged paper.
Tsssss—!
The letters began to glow with a faint blue light, slowly emerging.
The black characters pulsed on the page as if alive.
The first record that appeared was about the Manifest Demon Emperor.
Gugwi read down each line carefully. His lips trembled slightly.
‘Three souls as one… only when body, spirit, and soul unite can complete resurrection be achieved….’
So the resurrection was near after all? Even the Soul Echo Manual formally mentioned it.
But his gaze stopped at a particular passage.
His eyes flashed.
‘Without the Spirit Flow Core, resurrection remains incomplete… the body alone has its limits….’
At that moment, his heart pounded wildly. From deep within his chest, the Spirit Flow Core stirred and vibrated faintly.
“I found it! Hahaha! Ha ha ha!”
Gugwi’s shout cut through the night air, filled with excitement and conviction.
The three others simultaneously turned toward him.
Yeon Sohye’s dagger gleamed in the moonlight, Jang Unhyeok’s twin swords gave off a faint hum, and Jin Geonmu’s spear tip struck the ground.
“What did you find?”
Yeon Sohye leapt over the rock toward Gugwi.
Her steps were as silent as a cat’s, yet urgency was evident in her movements.
Gugwi held up the Soul Echo Manual.
The glowing blue letters still flickered on its pages.
“The Manifest Demon Emperor can’t fully resurrect without the Spirit Flow Core.”
His voice quivered.
He pointed at the text as he explained.
“It means the body alone isn’t enough. The Spirit Flow Core is the key!”
Jang Unhyeok narrowed his eyes and approached, his footsteps crunching over gravel.
“We already knew that. What’s new about it?”
Jin Geonmu also came closer.
The four gathered around the secret manual.
Gugwi closed the Soul Echo Manual. As the cover shut tightly, the blue glow faded away.
“As long as I don’t surrender the Spirit Flow Core, the Manifest Demon Emperor will remain incomplete forever. That means he’ll try to take it by force—but there’s a way to prevent that. If I use it, the Manifest Demon Emperor will never rise again.”
From within his chest, the Spirit Flow Core pulsed warmly.
The others exchanged looks.
A way to keep the Manifest Demon Emperor from seizing the Spirit Flow Core? Was such a thing possible?
Jang Unhyeok and Jin Geonmu didn’t fully grasp his meaning, but Yeon Sohye did.
‘If the Spirit Flow Core is destroyed, the Manifest Demon Emperor will vanish with it. So that’s what he confirmed? But that’s… suicide.’
Yeon Sohye forced a smile, hiding the sorrow in her eyes.
The four sat together around the campfire.
The dim flame reflected softly off the paper spread on the ground.
Jang Unhyeok drew a map from his chest. The paper rustled; the crumpled edges fluttered in the breeze.
“This is the internal map of the Heavenly Sound Cult.”
He ran his fingers lightly over the map’s surface.
It was worn and stained with touch—clearly studied many times before.
Yeon Sohye leaned forward.
“The Hall of the Forgotten Souls is here?”
Her finger pointed to a tall tower drawn at the center of the map, its ink lines intricately interwoven.
Jin Geonmu propped his spear beside him and stepped closer. His shadow stretched long across the parchment.
Jang Unhyeok nodded.
“That’s right. The Hall of the Forgotten Souls is one of the most important places in the Heavenly Sound Cult. Every secret lies there.”
Yeon Sohye’s eyes moved along the map, tracing the entrances, passages, and stairways one by one.
“What about the guards?”
“There are three layers.”
Jang Unhyeok tapped at several small dots around the tower.
“Here, here, and here. Each floor is guarded by a Spirit Summoner.”
Jin Geonmu stroked his chin.
“A frontal assault is impossible, then.”
“What about a detour?”
Yeon Sohye examined the back of the tower.
Jang Unhyeok turned the map to show another angle.
“There’s a drainage channel behind it. But… there’ll be traps there too. It’s too obvious.”
His expression darkened.
The three bent over the map together, their breaths brushing across the paper.
“The side?”
Jin Geonmu pointed to the tower’s flank.
“A cliff. You can’t climb it without ropes.”
Jang Unhyeok sighed.
Yeon Sohye looked over other parts of the map, her finger moving among various buildings.
“What are these?”
“Storehouses and lodgings. Nothing important.”
The wind stirred, lifting the edge of the map, and Jang Unhyeok quickly pinned it down.
Jin Geonmu shook his head.
“It won’t be easy. Every route is dangerous.”
Their gazes met over the map, moonlight casting shadows across their faces.
Yeon Sohye bit her lip in thought. Jin Geonmu and Jang Unhyeok stared silently at the parchment. Infiltrating the Hall of the Forgotten Souls was far more difficult than expected.
As the group pondered their next move, Gugwi, who had been quietly studying the map, suddenly spoke.
“Where do they keep the Minor Mastery Bodies?”
The three froze.
Yeon Sohye lifted her eyes toward him, as did Jin Geonmu.
But it was Jang Unhyeok whose face stiffened the most. His hand clenched unconsciously into a fist.
“Why do you ask that…?”
His voice trembled—he had instantly understood Gugwi’s intent.
Jang Unhyeok’s son.
Yeon Sohye and Jin Geonmu realized it at the same time—what Gugwi was planning to do.
Jang Unhyeok shook his head violently, his hair scattering in the wind.
“I know our mission comes first. My son’s life is important, but we must reach the Hall of the Forgotten Souls and uncover the Dark Spirit Sect’s clues before—”
His voice strained with emotion.
“No.”
Gugwi cut him off firmly, his eyes gleaming with resolve.
“I told you. There’s a way to stop the Manifest Demon Emperor.”
Gugwi slowly stood up. Moonlight shone upon his face, revealing an expression filled with conviction.
“The remnants of the Dark Spirit Sect can never resurrect the Manifest Demon Emperor, right? They say there are still three altars among the Four Holy Sites, but do we really need to destroy them all? It’s fine if we do—but not necessary.”
There was not a trace of hesitation in his voice.
Gugwi looked straight at Jang Unhyeok. Their gazes met in midair.
“So let’s focus on rescuing your son first.”
His voice grew warmer.
“Your son is still alive. He’s suffering even now.”
“Gugwi…”
Jang Unhyeok’s voice quivered.
Calling his name, emotion welled up in him until his knees nearly buckled.
Gugwi had finally made his decision.
“We save your son first—and if we have the chance afterward, we’ll infiltrate the Hall of the Forgotten Souls.”
With trembling hands, Jang Unhyeok pulled out a folded sheet of paper from his chest.
The paper rustled as it opened. The words upon it shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
“The Minor Mastery Bodies…”
His voice cracked. After taking a deep breath, he continued,
“They’re managed by Kang Sangho of the Fourth True Army.”
Yeon Sohye leaned forward.
“The Fourth Army…?”
“He’s the one known by the alias White Snow Fist General.”
Jang Unhyeok’s fists clenched tightly, veins bulging along the back of his hand.
“Fifty-five years old. He’s in charge of the research on secret arts. He looks gentle, but inside—utterly ruthless.”
Jin Geonmu clicked his tongue.
“Why is the Heavenly Sound Cult always filled with monsters like that?”
Jang Unhyeok’s voice trembled with anger.
“That man sacrifices lives for the sake of his experiments without a shred of hesitation. My son was one of them…”
His words cut off, choked by emotion.
“What’s his weapon?”
Gugwi asked quietly.
“White Snow Fist Gauntlets—forged from pure silver steel.”
Jang Unhyeok rubbed his wrist as he spoke.
“He’s guarded by five Spirit Union Martial Artists. They’re on another level entirely. Compared to them, Jinhwa Seong, Sa Hyeollin, Sasaha, and Ma Ungyeol are all beneath him. Frankly, it’s strange that they’re grouped under the same Twelve True Armies title.”
Jang Unhyeok swallowed hard before continuing.
“The Minor Mastery Bodies are kept underground—beneath his residence, the Silver Soul Pavilion.”
He pulled out another sheet of paper. Unfolded, it revealed an intricate building layout.
“I drew this myself, for the day I’d go to rescue my son.”
His fingers traced the structure carefully.
The paper was worn from constant handling—it was clear he had studied it countless times.
Gugwi sat cross-legged on a flat boulder. The three others turned to him.
“Feint in the East, strike in the West. Let’s keep it simple.”
Gugwi drew a line in the air with his finger. Moonlight seemed to follow its motion.
“The three of you will create chaos around the Heavenly Sound Cult’s perimeter. Make it loud, make it fierce.”
His tone was resolute.
“I’ll infiltrate alone. Solo mission.”
Yeon Sohye abruptly stood, her dagger clattering in its sheath.
“That’s too dangerous. You can’t go alone—!”
“This is the best way.”
Gugwi raised a hand to stop her.
“I’m the only one who can neutralize the Spirit Summoners within the Spiritless Zone. They say the Fourth Army is dangerous—but more dangerous than me? I carry the Manifest Demon Emperor inside me.”
Gugwi struck his chest twice with his fist.
“And besides, I’m also a Minor Mastery Body. There might be a resonance between us. Once I get inside, finding them won’t be difficult. I can trace them through the Spirit Flow Core if I have to.”
Jang Unhyeok spread the blueprint across the rock, securing its corners with stones against the wind.
“The Silver Soul Pavilion has three floors.”
His finger traced along the schematic.
“The lowest floor is the deepest—there’s the laboratory. That’s where the children are… my son will be there.”
His voice trembled again.
“What’s the infiltration route?”
Gugwi studied the diagram closely.
“There’s a drainage channel on the western wall. Enter through there and you’ll reach the basement directly. But…”
Jang Unhyeok pointed to a specific spot.
“The passage is narrow—only one person can fit at a time. There’s also an iron grate midway.”
“I can handle that.”
Gugwi’s voice brimmed with confidence.
Jin Geonmu struck his spear into the ground.
“When does the distraction begin?”
“One sijin before dawn.”
Jang Unhyeok looked up at the sky. The stars glittered faintly overhead.
“That’s when the patrols switch shifts—the weakest window.”
Yeon Sohye drew her dagger and checked the blade. The edge gleamed coldly beneath the moonlight.
“What’s the signal?”
“Three fireworks.”
Gugwi pulled out small fireworks from within his robe.
“When the rescue’s complete, I’ll launch these. Then we all retreat at once—don’t engage the Heavenly Sound Cult any further.”
The infiltration began.
Yeon Sohye was the first to move.
As she activated the Silver Spirit Illusion, her form blurred, wrapped in a silver mist. Her footsteps vanished completely.
“I’ll take the eastern wall.”
Her voice echoed faintly within the mist—and then her presence disappeared entirely.
Jang Unhyeok and Jin Geonmu rose side by side.
Determination filled their eyes.
“We’ll take the north. Bring my son back… if you can’t, grant him peace. If you do, I’ll serve you for life.”
Jang Unhyeok strapped his twin swords to his back.
“Don’t worry. The Master will bring him home.”
Jin Geonmu clapped Jang Unhyeok on the shoulder as he spoke.
The two disappeared into the darkness, their footsteps fading away.
Gugwi was left alone.
Silence settled. Only the whisper of wind and rustling leaves filled the air.
Gugwi began running toward the mountain path.
He leapt off rocks, his feet pounding over grass. He raced like the wind.
Branches whipped across his face; thorns caught at his clothes. But he did not stop.
Pebbles skittered underfoot. His breathing quickened, heart pounding hard.
The Silver Soul Pavilion drew closer.
The black tower loomed beneath the moon, casting a vast shadow. From its top, a red light flickered ominously.
Gugwi’s pace quickened, the pulse of the Spirit Flow Core growing stronger within him.
“Heh… Don’t worry. I’ll bring him back—no matter what.”