novelraw Chapter 86 : Opening the Box
Chapter 86 : Opening the Box
Jeong-yeop, who was wearing a fox mask, said.
"I prepared diligently at the brothel for you, older brother, but I'm sad that you're just leaving."
"I've come after twenty years. I have to see the goods first. It's not too late to see the brothel at night."
"Yes, older brother."
Although Jeong-yeop was disappointed, he could not refuse Jo Han-yu's order.
"There hasn't been any particular trouble, has there?"
"Yes. For the past twenty years, no one has invaded Muyeondo. Not even a single rat has been able to get in."
"Well done. Let's go."
Jo Han-yu, who was satisfied with Jeong-yeop's answer, nodded and walked ahead as if he knew Muyeondo well.
Jeong-yeop walked shoulder to shoulder with him. Behind him, the guest room master and the shop master followed.
At the very back was Woo Jeong-bong.
Woo Jeong-bong briefly looked at the gambling house master and the brothel master who were returning to the boat. They did not get on the same boat, but got on two boats separately and then slowly headed for the inn.
Jo Han-yu and Jeong-yeop, who were walking ahead, headed for the pavilion. Around the pavilion, dozens of men in black were lined up.
"How long have we been together?"
"It's been thirty years."
"Thirty years... It's been a long time."
"Yes, it's been a long time."
"Was it forty years ago when we first met? You were ten years old then."
"Yes."
Jeong-yeop answered Jo Han-yu's words, recalling old memories.
The first time he met the leader, Jo Han-yu, was with his older sister. His older sister had promised to marry Jo Han-yu, but she had died of an illness.
After his older sister died, Jo Han-yu took care of him, and when he grew up, he helped him become the owner of a grand inn.
* * *
Jin Sa-wol, who was watching the people gathering, had a hardened expression when he saw a face he had not expected.
Jo Geom-ok was with Jo Han-yu.
'Why?'
Although he thought for a moment about the reason why Jo Geom-ok was with them, nothing came to mind.
Jin Sa-wol forcibly shook off his thoughts about Jo Geom-ok.
Right now, Jo Han-yu's matter was more important than Jo Geom-ok's.
Although he had expected that Jo Han-yu would come to Muyeondo, he had not thought that he would come so quickly.
It was probably the same for other people.
Seeing that he had come without even giving the people who were looking for him time to find him, it was certain that the Thousand Gold Treasury that he cherished was here.
The problem was the bodyguards and the numerous warriors.
As he saw Jo Han-yu entering the pavilion, Jin Sa-wol slowly went down the mountain.
* * *
Jo Han-yu, who had entered the pavilion, approached a large tiger-shaped stone statue in the center of the main hall.
The tiger was standing alone.
Its length was over one zhang, and its height, at the tiger's head, was about seven cheok.
At the foot of the tiger, the character 'gold' was written.
"Is it twenty years?"
Jo Han-yu muttered and took out a hexagonal ruler from his bosom.
On the silver ruler, dozens of scales were finely carved. Some of them were quite deep.
It was the key to open the Thousand Gold Treasury.
Jo Han-yu inserted the ruler into the hexagonal hole in the tiger's body.
Click!
As he heard the sound of the ruler going in, Jo Han-yu turned his gaze to Jeong-yeop.
"What are you doing?"
"Yes."
Jeong-yeop answered and took out a square golden ruler from his bosom and inserted it into another small hole in the tiger's body.
There were two keys to open the secret door, and one of the keys was held by Jeong-yeop, the innkeeper.
Click!
A similar sound echoed again.
As Jo Han-yu injected his internal energy and turned the ruler, Jeong-yeop also put in strength and turned it.
Thump! Thump! Click!
A loud sound echoed from under the floor of the pavilion, and the tiger statue slowly moved back.
And the entrance to the underground appeared.
It was the entrance to the Thousand Gold Treasury.
The Thousand Gold Treasury could only be opened when two rulers operated the mechanism at the same time.
Since it could never be opened with just one, Jeong-yeop had not been able to open that door.
Jo Han-yu, who was looking at the stairs going down, said to Jeong-yeop.
"There were many difficulties when I first made the Martial Alliance. If the inn hadn't helped me then, it would have been quite difficult."
"I also received a lot of help from you, older brother. Would the current Gangnam Grand Inn have been possible without your help?"
"I'm glad you think so. Let's go in."
Jo Han-yu took a step towards the stairs first.
In that instant, Jeong-yeop's right palm flew towards Jo Han-yu's side.
Jo Han-yu quickly turned his body and received Jeong-yeop's right palm with his right palm.
Clang!
Although their palms had met, a sound of glass breaking echoed, and a strong wind rose from the center of the two and swept in all directions.
Crack!
The transparent glass barrier that was surrounding Jo Han-yu and Jeong-yeop shook.
The silver smoke that had bloomed around the glass barrier gathered like threads and then slowly circled around.
The powerful energy created by the two shook the earth.
Thump-thump-thump!
The ground cracked, and cracks appeared on the pillars and walls of the pavilion.
Jeong-yeop, who was wearing a fox mask, smiled with his eyes at Jo Han-yu, who had blocked his attack.
"I even changed my voice, so it was perfect. How did you know?"
"Jeong-yeop doesn't call me older brother. He calls me brother-in-law."
Jo Han-yu let out a bitter sneer and looked around at the warriors and pavilion masters who had surrounded them.
"It seems the pavilion masters also didn't know. Well, the oldest guest room master has only met him for about ten years, so there's no way he would know."
"I missed that important thing."
Jeong-yeop said as if it were a shame and then created a stronger energy and concentrated it in his hand. Then, a silver light filled his hand.
Jo Han-yu narrowed his brow. It felt as if a sharp sword were stabbing his palm.
"It's the Silver Demonic Palm of the Demonic Cult."
"As expected of someone who was the leader, you're well-versed in the knowledge of the martial world."
"When did you kill Jeong-yeop?"
"Half a year ago."
Hearing fake Jeong-yeop's answer, Jo Han-yu looked at the other pavilion masters. They were all faces he already knew.
"Hohoho."
Jo Han-yu laughed as if it were interesting and put strength in his right palm. In that instant, a flash of light flickered.
Thump!
Fake Jeong-yeop and Jo Han-yu were pushed back three zhang at the same time.
Fake Jeong-yeop, who had retreated, took out a folding fan and held it.
"I knew that the inn had entered the Demonic Cult twenty years ago. At that time, I discussed it with the Demonic Cult Leader and decided to share the profits of the inn. The Thousand Gold Treasury here also has the things of the former Demonic Cult Leader. Are you aiming for that?"
"You know well."
"Who are you?"
"You don't need to know."
Fake Jeong-yeop answered shortly and raised his hand.
"Kill them."
Papapat!
At his order, the warriors who were around all descended upon Jo Han-yu and his disciples at once.
"Damn it! What are these bastards!"
Clang-clang-clang!
Woo Jeong-bong shouted and cut down the warriors of the inn who were rushing at him.
Jo Geom-ok, Cha-yong, and Hyung Soo-pung also moved their swords at a fast speed and faced the men in black.
Jo Han-yu held his sword in his hand and then aimed it at fake Jeong-yeop.
"It seems you've chosen the wrong opponent."
"Hahahaha! You have to try to know if it's long or short!"
Thwack!
Fake Jeong-yeop's figure stretched forward, and he moved his folding fan.
A powerful wind swirled and descended upon Jo Han-yu.
As Jo Han-yu's sword flickered, a flash of lightning fell, cut through the wind, and cut fake Jeong-yeop.
Fake Jeong-yeop raised his folding fan and blocked it.
Clang! Thump!
As fake Jeong-yeop's figure was pushed back, Jo Han-yu laughed wildly and swung his sword.
"Hohohoho! You trash bastards! Not a single one of the Demonic Cult's bug bastards will be able to leave this island alive!"
Whoosh!
Jo Han-yu jumped up and sprayed his sword energy at fake Jeong-yeop.
A light containing a formidable power filled the pavilion.
In that short moment, there was a black shadow that crossed the pavilion in a low posture like a swallow and entered the underground.
"Hmph!"
Jo Han-yu's eyes widened.
Fake Jeong-yeop, who was blocking Jo Han-yu's attack, was also startled and flinched.
In that instant, Jo Han-yu's sword energy and fake Jeong-yeop's energy collided, and the atmosphere exploded.
Thump-thump-thump! Thump-thump-thump! Thump!
With a sound of thunder, the earth shook as if there were an earthquake, and the five-story pavilion collapsed in an instant.
"Ugh! Help me!"
"Kraak! Ack!"
"Help me!"
From the collapsed pavilion, the screams and groans of numerous people exploded like a scene from hell.
As the huge building collapsed, the surroundings were also in a mess.
It was unknown how many people were buried in the rubble of the building. The number of people who could not escape was dozens.
Although the entrance to the Thousand Gold Treasury was also blocked, Jo Han-yu was not very worried.
Whoosh!
Jo Han-yu, who had come down from the air and landed on the rubble of the building, looked at fake Jeong-yeop, who was standing at a distance of five zhang.
Fake Jeong-yeop was also standing on the rubble of the building.
"What a tremendous energy."
Fake Jeong-yeop praised him, giving a thumbs-up. Jo Han-yu stroked his beard and slung his sword over his shoulder.
"I'll have to take off your mask. I have to check if it's a face I know."
"Hahaha! Is there a need for that? Anyway, it's a face you know. I have a lot of grudges against you, Jo Han-yu."
"How many bastards in the Demonic Cult have a grudge against me? Hehehe!"
As Jo Han-yu laughed loudly, the earth vibrated. At that laughter, the men in black staggered.
In that instant, a scream exploded from behind Jo Han-yu.
"Kraak!"
"Ugh!"
Jo Geom-ok and Cha-yong were killing the men in black. Behind them, Woo Jeong-bong and Hyung Soo-pung were also fighting hard.
Although their numbers were small, Jo Han-yu was not worried.
Whoosh!
Jo Han-yu jumped up and stabbed his sword at fake Jeong-yeop.
The sword energy that stretched in a straight line shone dazzlingly.
Fake Jeong-yeop clicked his tongue and flew as far as possible.
Thump-thump-thump!
As the rubble exploded again, numerous fragments became daggers with the dust and scattered in all directions.
"Kraak!"
The men in black who were nearby could not avoid the flying debris and were hit and died.
Jo Han-yu, who had landed on the rubble, looked at fake Jeong-yeop, who was standing on a distant roof.
Fake Jeong-yeop's eyes were smiling. He raised his folding fan and then aimed it at Jo Han-yu.
"Kill them!"
"Waaaaaah!"
With a roar, hundreds of men in black jumped in from the pier. They were the members of the Yaksha Hall of the Wall Demonic Hall.
Fake Jeong-yeop unfolded his folding fan, fanned himself, and smiled.
"No matter how great your martial arts are, you can't get out of here alive. Jo... Han... Yu... You will die here."
Fake Jeong-yeop threw a relaxed gaze.
Jo Han-yu looked at the warriors of the Wall Demonic Hall who were rushing at him and smiled coldly.
"What foolish bastards."
Jo Han-yu muttered and jumped into the air. In that instant, dozens of huge lightning bolts fell from the sky.
Thump-thump-thump! Thump!
It was the Wuji Sword Art of the Wudang Sect, which was close to the extreme.
* * *
Thump! Thump-thump-thump! Thump-thump-thump!
The stairs shook with a huge impact sound from behind.
Thump-thump! Thump!
Jin Sa-wol, who had come down to the underground, had a disappointed expression as the rubble of the collapsed pavilion blocked the entrance.
Although it was a relief for now, the problem was when he had to go out.
Although he had come in, aiming for a gap when fake Jeong-yeop and Jo Han-yu were fighting, one of the two would surely be standing outside.
But he could not miss this good opportunity.
Thump! Thump!
As he went down all the stairs, he saw a long corridor.
The artificially made corridor had a faint blue light due to the night-luminescent pearls.
The blue light was the same color as the sky at the boundary between dawn and morning.
A light that was neither bright nor dark.
Jin Sa-wol walked slowly down the corridor and moved inside.
After a short while, he saw a half-open iron door. The iron door, which had not been touched by human hands for a long time, was full of dust.
Jin Sa-wol, who had passed the door and gone inside, opened his eyes wide.
Countless groups of light filled the ceiling, and the floor of the room was covered in gold and silver.
It was a huge amount of gold and silver treasures. As it was called the Thousand Gold Treasury, it was literally as much wealth as the sky.
In the middle of that room, there was a single stage, and on the side of the wall, there were drawers and several chests.
Jin Sa-wol headed for the single stage.
On the single stage, there were weapons and chests made of marble.
"How amazing."
Jin Sa-wol muttered and looked at the weapons. Some were swords, and some were sabers.
He also saw daggers and short sabers.
Jin Sa-wol picked up one of the daggers. His eyes widened slightly.
"Is this perhaps...?!"
(End of Chapter)