Chapter 630
Chapter 630
Chapter 630. The Will Passed Down (2)
The first to speak was Young Master Yeon Yu-mun. He sniffed and said.
“It smells quite nice.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“Indeed. Is it the scent of flowers?” (Captain Kwon)
“It seems to be coming from inside there?” (Head Escort Cha)
But I could only tilt my head.
What scent did they mean? The only smell my nose could sense was the musty odor unique to an underground space that had been sealed for a long time…….
“Let us go in.” (Captain Kwon)
We went inside and descended the stairs.
“Here…… is this really the sword tomb?” (Head Escort Cha)
“No wonder you said there was a flower scent.” (Captain Kwon)
“What kind of trickery is this!” (Yeon Yu-mun)
The three of them, excluding me, looked either startled or amazed.
“What is the matter?” (MC)
“Can you not see that flower field?” (Captain Kwon)
“Pardon? A flower field?” (MC)
“Hoho! It truly is a beautiful flower field.” (Captain Kwon)
“This is the first flower field I have ever seen in Yunnan Province.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
Judging by the three of them, it seemed a fairly beautiful flower field was spread out before them.
But if it did not appear to my eyes…… then there was a high chance it was an illusion created through formations.
Because, due to the pure energy of the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art I had learned, nothing could interfere with my mind.
In any case, Young Master Yeon Yu-mun was either the descendant or friend of the one who made this sword tomb.
But why had they created such a flower field to hide this place’s true appearance?
Perhaps it came from a desire to make it seem like something impressive.
Right now, this place was nothing more than a square space made by stacking crude bricks.
Or perhaps it was to soothe weary minds and bodies.
Then a question suddenly occurred to me.
I am not affected by illusions caused by all sorts of formations, so how is the Founder’s arrangement applied to me?
I was definitely told that my ability to meet the Founder was due to a formation made by the Founder’s friend…….
Well, I can ask the Founder about it later.
“I cannot see the flower field.” (MC)
I told them the truth.
Because it seemed better to let them know that what they saw was an illusion than to pretend I could see that flower field.
“It is probably because of an artifact I possess. It has the ability to prevent me from being affected by hallucinations.” (MC)
“Then the flower field we are seeing is a hallucination.” (Captain Kwon)
“Yes. It is likely a hallucination created through formations. Is there anything unusual in that flower field?” (MC)
“Something unusual…… Ah! There seems to be something like a stele here.” (Captain Kwon)
The stele standing in the center of that space seemed to be visible to their eyes as well.
Then Young Master Yeon Yu-mun said.
“Something is engraved here. It says, ‘Descendant of Yeon, the objects inside this box have been left for our descendants, so realize our will through them.’” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“And there is one box behind the stele.” (Captain Kwon)
As Captain Kwon said, I could also see a box on top of a stone platform.
“That box, then.” (MC)
“Hm? You can see the box?” (Captain Kwon)
“Yes. I can see the box and the stele.” (MC)
“Let us open the box. Young Master Yeon, please.” (Captain Kwon)
“Yes.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
Young Master Yeon Yu-mun approached and opened the box.
Inside were several scrolls.
“Hm? What documents are these?” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“I will take a look.” (MC)
I picked up the thickest of the scrolls and unfolded it as it was.
“This is…….” (MC)
The letters written on the paper were not the language of the Empire.
But they were not letters I had never seen before.
I had a memory of seeing them in my previous life…… I think I was told they were used by a certain tribe a very long time ago.
But not to the point that I could understand their contents.
Then Young Master Yeon Yu-mun stepped forward.
“Ah, these are letters our tribe has used since long ago.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“Can you read them?” (MC)
“Ah, yes. Of course I can read them. I am, after all, the heir of this city in name, so naturally I learned them.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
As expected, they were the letters of the tribe residing in this Chungyeong Fortress.
“I will read it. Hmm…… If you are seeing this, then my descendants must surely be in a situation of great hardship. This is an arrangement made so that my descendants who settled here may continue their line from generation to generation.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
Young Master Yeon Yu-mun continued.
“First, there is a token of the marriage agreement made with the Emperor who rules this Empire, so I recommend using this to form ties by marriage with the imperial family.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
Young Master Yeon Yu-mun wore an awkward expression.
“Well…… I have already married Her Highness the Princess. Hahaha.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“I see.” (Captain Kwon)
That meant the token of the marriage agreement had become useless.
The person who built this sword tomb could not have foreseen even that.
Because the result of my intervention, and the fact that His current Majesty the Emperor was quite competent while also being greedy, had created the current situation.
“I will continue reading.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
Young Master Yeon Yu-mun read the scroll again.
“Second, there is a token received from the Palace Head of Zhurong Palace in Yunnan Province, so through this, you should be able to seek safety for your person.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
Hearing this, Head Escort Cha pointed inside the box.
“There is a token here.” (Head Escort Cha)
“I see.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“Third, there is a notarized document received from the Emperor of the Empire. This is a notarized document stating that we will not be driven out of this land, so with it, you may assert your legitimacy in this land.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
One of the two scrolls must be that.
“Lastly, fourth, go find the man born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“……!”
At those words, I flinched without realizing it.
He just said a man born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body, right?
I think I know who that is.
That is me.
In my previous life, the Black-Red Divine Physician said it.
That the probability of a man being born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body was low enough to say it almost did not exist.
Meanwhile, Young Master Yeon Yu-mun’s words continued.
“The man born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body is fated to become the center of the world. He will become a sharp sword that corrects the disordered natural order and cuts down those who stain heavenly fate with blood, so if you can receive his help, you will surely be able to revive the family.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
I feel like I have heard these words somewhere.
Where did I hear them?
Ah…… I heard these from the Black-Red Divine Physician as well.
“According to what has been handed down, a woman born with the constitution of the Black Dragon Sacred Body becomes a genius under heaven, and a boy becomes the center of the world.” (Black-Red Divine Physician)
I thought he had been saying it to comfort me, but was it really true?
Young Master Yeon Yu-mun finished reading the scroll.
“And I leave travel expenses for this purpose, so I hope you use them well.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
Looking inside the box, there was an old pouch that seemed to be made of silk.
Young Master Yeon Yu-mun picked it up and poured it out.
Clink.
Around fifty gold rings.
It was only about two gold ingots’ worth.
So that was why Geumryeong had not particularly reacted.
It was not a small amount, but it also was not enough to be overwhelmingly tempting.
“Is that all of its contents?” (Captain Kwon)
“Yes.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
At Captain Kwon’s question, Young Master Yeon Yu-mun nodded.
“Ha! Then this place was made for this arrangement?” (Captain Kwon)
Then Head Escort Cha sighed and said.
“I was looking forward to it because there were many quite varied and high-level mechanisms, formations, and traps, but this is truly hollow.” (Head Escort Cha)
I consoled them.
“Still, we should acknowledge the heart behind it, that it was for the sake of his descendants.” (MC)
“Well, there is reason in your words.” (Captain Kwon)
This place, Yunnan, is not such a peaceful region.
Because it is far from the center of the Empire, the powers of this region and nearby areas often waged war.
There were several powers in Yunnan, with Zhurong Palace, the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, and the Myriad Poison Sect as the representative ones.
Since the Empire’s control could not properly reach this place, the strength of such local indigenous powers could not help but be strong.
For an ordinary place like Chungyeong Fortress to keep its lineage alive among such people was truly an arduous matter.
That was why the person who made this sword tomb must have worried about the future of his descendants and created a place like this to preserve the arrangement.
The reason he made it so complicated must have been to protect this arrangement from forces that invaded this place.
Furthermore, if outsiders invaded this place, it meant his descendants had been massacred, so he may also have intended to take revenge for that.
I said to the other three.
“And I think it would be best for us to keep silent for the rest of our lives about what we saw and heard today. Even if it seems insignificant, this was left behind by the ancestors of the residents of Chungyeong Fortress, so I do not think it should be made into idle talk.” (MC)
“Well, that is true.” (Captain Kwon)
“Do not worry. We are not such thoughtless fellows.” (Captain Kwon)
Young Master Yeon Yu-mun said with a moved expression.
“I can only thank you for thinking so of us.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
I had asked them for Chungyeong Fortress’s sake, but also for my own safety.
Because of what Young Master Yeon Yu-mun had said fourth.
That one born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body becomes the center of the world.
But the center of the world is a phrase that applies to the Emperor.
So if by any chance these words leaked outside, and it became known that I was born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body, there was a possibility I could be branded a traitor.
The Emperor gave me limited immunity, but if I am branded a traitor, it becomes troublesome.
Huh? Wait.
If the Blood Cult had explored this sword tomb, discovered this after countless sacrifices, and deciphered it…….
[He will become a sharp sword that corrects the disordered natural order and cuts down those who stain heavenly fate with blood, so if you can receive his help, you will surely be able to revive the family.]
This passage would be quite irritating to them.
Because staining heavenly fate with blood probably meant the Blood Cult.
And judging from the circumstances so far, the Blood Cult and the Murim Alliance seemed to have some sort of relationship.
Then did they kill me because they found out I had the Black Dragon Sacred Body?
I still remember.
The words Namgung Kang said when I died in my previous life.
“I wonder if you know this. Actually, the reason the higher-ups wiped out the Eunhae Trading Company was because of you.” (Namgung Kang)
If that is truly the case…….
Does that mean the very fact that I was born was a misfortune for the Eunhae Trading Company?
“Are you all right?” (Captain Kwon)
Perhaps my complexion looked poor, because Captain Kwon asked worriedly.
“I am fine. It seems to be because the air does not circulate well here.” (MC)
“That is true. Let us quickly organize this place and leave.” (Captain Kwon)
Then Head Escort Cha said.
“Ah, but do all of you remember the phrase written on the stone door we saw when we came in here?” (Head Escort Cha)
“I remember.” (Captain Kwon)
“It said that what was left inside was our will, and to realize our will through it. But what exactly is that will?” (Head Escort Cha)
“Hm?” (Captain Kwon)
“That bothers me.” (Head Escort Cha)
“Survival.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
The answer to that question came from Young Master Yeon Yu-mun.
He looked at the scroll and said.
“According to the words left here, all four methods are about ways for the tribe to survive.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“Now that you mention it, that is so.” (Captain Kwon)
“I think surviving in this land is the will that the ancestor who left this place behind desired.” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“I think so as well. Then let us start leaving this place.” (Captain Kwon)
Captain Kwon said that and personally picked up the box.
It was small enough for one person to carry.
“Huh? There is something here.” (Captain Kwon)
But letters were engraved on the floor where the box had been placed.
“What is written here?” (Head Escort Cha)
Young Master Yeon Yu-mun approached and read the letters.
“It says, ‘Remember this without fail. The strong are not the winners; the ones who survive until the very end are the winners. Also, remember this. Do not look upward, but look downward. We were always at the bottom, and that place is the truly comfortable place.’” (Yeon Yu-mun)
“……!”
At that moment, I realized something.
The words that the one who survives until the very end is the winner.
I was born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body, and because of that, the Eunhae Trading Company was destroyed.
So what?
Was I born because I wanted to be born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body?
I also suffered terribly because of it.
Would I, who was born with the Black Dragon Sacred Body, be the bad guy?
The ones who killed me and my family when we were living well and eating well are the absolute bastards under heaven.
In my previous life, they killed me, but it will not happen that way this time.
Because I will grit my teeth and survive to the very end.
Yes, just like those words, the one who survives to the very end is the winner.
The winner of this life will be me.
“But what came out from inside here is only this…… What if they suspect us of having taken the treasures for ourselves?” (Head Escort Cha Geoyi)
Head Escort Cha Geoyi’s words had reason.
Usually, when one explores a sword tomb, countless treasures are bound to come out. And among the horns of the Bak stone statues in various places, there is a great deal of gold and silver as well.
But we are going out with only this?
People will definitely talk.
What would be best to do…….
After worrying for a moment, I noticed something strange.
They used gold and silver like that to lure enemies in, but for the descendants who would carry on their will, they only left around fifty gold rings?
There is no way. There must be something more.
* Geumryeong. (MC)
* Kkui! (Geumryeong)
* Is there really no treasure inside here? (MC)
* Kkui! Kku! (Geumryeong)
* There is no treasure, but there is something that smells like money? What is that? (MC)
* Kkui! Kkui! (Geumryeong)
What Geumryeong was talking about was the box.
More precisely, the bottom of that box.
I politely asked Captain Kwon.
“Captain, may I examine that box a little more?” (MC)
At my words, Captain Kwon handed me the box without hesitation. Since I had helped them come all the way here without trouble, he must have trusted me.
I took out the contents of the box and carefully examined the inside of it.
“This, the bottom of the box is double-layered.” (MC)
“Let me see!” (Head Escort Cha)
Head Escort Cha also examined the box, and soon exclaimed in admiration.
“Oh! It really is!” (Head Escort Cha)
“Can you disassemble this?” (MC)
“Of course! What do you take my skills for?” (Head Escort Cha)
Head Escort Cha confidently rolled up his sleeves, and the bottom of the box was quickly separated.
A piece of silk was inserted between the boards that made up the bottom of that box.
What was drawn on that silk was a map.
Judging by the words [This is the gift I leave to my descendants] written on it…….
“This is the real treasure map.” (MC)
No, how are you supposed to expect them to solve this if you make the riddle this difficult? Then how is the descendant who actually needs it supposed to find it?
Of course, he may have intended to leave it to a descendant intelligent enough to figure that out…….
In any case, thanks to Geumryeong, we found that. But,
* Kkui? Kku? (Geumryeong)
Hm? There is a problem?