Editors: Ytho, LaidBackGuy
(T/N: new character- Chwigeol. Fyi that’s a hella strange name to have, who names their kid ‘drunkrd’ wth. I desperately wanna rename him drunken fist)
“I heard that the dungeon was open.”
Solitary Blade Dokgo walked up to Wijihoyeon carefully and told her. Wijihoyeon opened her closed eyes and looked at him. The Black Dragon wrapped around her hand fluttered in the dark.
“Dungeon?”
“Yes. That place is close to here.”
Solitary Blade bowed and said. Wijihoyeon stared at him with a somber expression. Solitary Blade Dokgo shivered slightly under the chilling gaze, but he did not avoid it. He bowed his head in awe of her.
“How about taking it on?”
Dokgo asked sincerely. Dungeons would happen suddenly, like natural disasters. A Dungeon that of this kind was filled with all sorts of mysteries that defied common sense. Obviously, danger and opportunity coexisted in the dungeon.
“Do I need to?”
Wijihoyeon murmured. It seemed like she was talking to herself, but the question was also directed toward Dokgo. Solitary Blade was pleased to hear that.
1 year ago. In the north, Wijihoyeon collided with Baek Museon, the Bloody Heavenly Demon, and won. Baek Museon and his faction, which dominated the northern city of Travia, were hit hard by the defeat at the hands of Wijihoyeon. Bloody Heavenly Demon’s left arm was cut, and he was crippled while the power of that Bloody Heavenly Demon Alliance was cut in half.
As a result, Wijihoyeon’s reputation grew even more. Heavenly Demon sect, which only had twenty people at that time, also increased in numbers significantly. Of course, Wijihoyeon wasn’t happy about it, and she was still acting alone, abandoning her followers.
Nevertheless, several outstanding masters, including the Solitary Blade Dokgo, still served themselves up at the beck and call of Wijihoyeon.
Solitary Blade considered himself a very necessary and loyal follower to Wijihoyeon. He was fascinated by her overwhelming strength, and he seriously thought that she would soon stand at the center of the world, at the zenith of power. It was because of this belief itself that the Solitary Blade was completely possessed by Wijihoyeon.
“I think this is fate. The dungeon opened not too far from here, and you are here. The dungeon is yours to claim.”
Solitary Blade said. Although his words were difficult to understand from a normal point of view, those words full of enthusiasm were Solitary Blade Dokgo’s sincere thoughts.
“Hmm.”
Wijihoyeon thought for a moment. Was she interested in conquering a dungeon? Wijihoyeon had wandered in Eria for a while now, but she hadn’t encountered a dungeon yet. Rather than gaining experience from it, what truly convinced her was thinking about what she could acquire from the dungeon.
“Shall we go?”
The curiosity led Wijihoyeon forward. She nodded and raised her body. Wijihoyeon moved. Then her followers who were gathered around also began to move together with her. Solitary Blade Dokgo looked at Wijihoyeon’s back, walking slowly, and looked at the distance. In his eyes, there was a deep darkness, like a void where nothing was visible. It contained explicit hostility.
“Uh.”
A man sitting on a tall tree trembled and shook his head.
“Your gaze is too fierce.”
There were countless experts in the conservative faction. If you asked someone to pick only one of the best of them, people would hesitate to answer. But if you say three rather than one, they would respond without hesitation.
Shaolin’s Jihak.
Volcano faction’s Qingming.
Wandering Sect’s Chwigeol.
(T/N: volcanic factions were called shamans here. Also the name says changyoung, but since volcanic factions are a Chinese sect, Qingming would make for a more fitting name imo. Also idk if this 개방 sect has been mentioned before but before my brain settles on dog room sect ill name it ‘chwigeol of the rogue cultivators’ or maybe wandering sect’s chwigeol)
The three of them had all mastered the techniques of their respective clans and were being groomed by the elders to become future successors as the clan leader. Among them, Jihak and Qingming did not engage in external activities, instead only practicing martial arts in the main mountain of Munpa.
But Chwigeol was different.
“What should I do?”
Chwigeol turned his head. Where his gaze was directed, five people were sitting with strong killing intent in their aura.
“Minor Heavenly Demon. That monster is starting to move. I don’t know what kind of conversation they had, but… she’s probably headed for the dungeon.”
Chwigeol mumbled. Then the silent woman opened her mouth.
“We must go too.”
It was Silent Flare Baek Sogo.
“I don’t know what will happen in the dungeon. It is dangerous to enter the dungeon without any proper preparation.”
“If Wijihoyeon conquers the dungeon and raises her level, it would be more dangerous.”
It wasn’t Baek Sogo that said it. It was a middle-aged man with a shaggy beard who said it with seriousness in his eyes. It wasn’t Chwigeol’s place to answer that question, so he stood there silently.
‘I don’t have a good feeling about this.’
The thing called gut feeling was unreliable, but Chwigeol was quite confident in his senses. In fact, it was natural to think that you don’t want to do something that you are unwilling to do, even if you don’t have any experience of making a big profit or avoiding misfortune.
“Solitary Blade looked this way. If he saw us, it would mean that Wijihoyeon was also aware of our existence.”
“So far, Wijihoyeon has not been at odds with us, even though she has noticed our existence. She seems arrogant and ruthless, but she is not foolish. Actually, Wijihoyeon has never had any conflicts with the conservative factions.”
“I heard that Shaolin was embarrassed by Wijihoyeon?”
“Shaolin did not think of it as a disgrace. Rather, Grandmaster Bulyoung expressed his favor when speaking of Wijihoyeon.”
“She went to Shaolin too, huh.”
The five people, including Chwigeol and Baek Sogo, talked.
“It was because we belonged to the Murim factions that we have been ignored despite her knowing our existence. But in the dungeon… The background of the Murim won’t protect us. I don’t know what will happen there.”
Chwigeol said with a strong voice. It’s dangerous. That’s what Chwigeol claimed. However, the rest of the four did not listen to him.
“We can’t leave Wijihoyeon alone.”
“I know the dungeon is dangerous, and I know that the monsters in there have terrible powers.”
“But there is no time.”
“Calling for backup is one way. But what if Wijihoyeon attacked the dungeon before they arrived?”
“I don’t know what’s in the dungeon. There could be a spiritual land or a great elixir. Maybe there are magical techniques or artifacts.”
“One thing is obvious. The dungeon is so powerful that it cannot be compared to the forces that exist in this world.”
“I cannot let Wijihoyeon get hold of such power.”
As they went back and forth, Baek Sogo was silent. Chwigeol scratched his head and swallowed a sigh. It was impossible to persuade them. Going on a mission as dangerous as keeping watch on Wijihoyeon, they had all volunteered to do it. Everyone was an expert in their own right in the Murim factions but they were also madmen, who would sacrifice their lives in the name of ‘justice’.
‘I have to make sure it is the opposing party that is dealt with a loss.’
Chwigoel thought while looking back at Baek Sogo. If Baek Sogo had no intention of retreating, he would also have to go along with it.
“… It’s not like I can help it.”
Saying that Chwigeol also agreed.
Wijihoyeon and the Heavenly Demon Sect. Baek Sogo and the Murim factions. While they were headed for the dungeon, Lee Sungmin was also heading towards the same place.
The exact location of the dungeon was unknown. What Lee Sungmin could do was wait for the dungeon to be opened and information about it to be distributed near the dungeon.
He purchased the information. The place where the dungeon was opened was not far from here.
[Are you really going to go?]
Rubia asked in an uneasy voice while looking at him. Instead of taking her beastkin form, Rubia had turned into a small sphere that floated around Lee Sungmin. It was because of Envirus’ spell that his familiar Rubia had to take such a form in the first place.
“I have to go.”
Lee Sungmin reached inside the inter-dimensional pocket. He pulled out the spear that Selgerus made. He had never used this spear since practicing it in Shaolin. But now he had to use it. Regardless of his abilities, he had to use everything at his disposal from now on.
[… Huu. Alright. I see. I can’t help it if you say it like that. By the way, have you ever gone into a dungeon?]
“I have not.”
Lee Sungmin replied. It was not untrue. Just once in his previous life, he had once entered a dungeon.
‘And I died.’
He didn’t want to remember that. At that time, he had entered the dungeon while he was a no class, so he was not properly prepared. But this time he had prepared himself. Lee Sungmin used up all of his wealth and purchased various potions. He checked his inventory. Various daggers were attached to his belt as well as a spear strapped behind his back. Lee Sungmin breathed quietly while wearing a cloak.
He thought of many ways to persuade Wijihoyeon. Or to persuade Baek Sogo. It was impossible to stop Wijihoyeon by force. If so, was it possible for Baek Sogo? He couldn’t confirm Baek Sogo’s location properly. The area was too wide. He bought the information that Baek Sogo and Wijioyeon were in this area, but it was almost impossible to search through this large of an area and meet them.
[You’re going to go to the dungeon, never having experienced it before…! Where does all your confidence come from?]
“It’s because I must do it.”
Lee Sungmin ran toward the dungeon’s location. Rubia, who was currently in the form of a sphere, drifted around Lee Sungmin’s head.
[First of all, it is crucial to understand the layout of the dungeon. Every dungeon has a definite end, and if you reach that end and achieve the condition, you will be targeted by others for the treasures you possess. How to reach the end is the core of the problem! Dungeons can be mazes or forests.
It could even be a sea.]
Lee Sungmin retraced his memory. The dungeon that he entered in the previous life and died was an underground maze.
[In the dungeon, there are various means such as monsters and traps that threaten the challengers. If you try to kill monsters outside the dungeon, only the body remains, but if the same monster dies in a dungeon…]
“I know. Monsters in dungeons leave a clear loot, unlike outside. Things like money, elixir, magic, martial arts, potions, and weapons.”
So if the dungeon was open, all kinds of people would drop everything and run headfirst into it. If he thought of it like that, it made sense that Murim factions were following Wijihoyeon, who was going to enter the dungeon. If Wijihoyeon succeeded in conquering the dungeon,
Wijihoyeon, who already had such terrifying power, would become a monster that can’t be touched.
“This is it.”
Lee Sungmin stopped walking. He could see a huge red crystal shining on the rocky ground. The dungeon Lee Sungmin entered in his previous life was also like that. He shuddered and approached the crystal.
When he reached out and touched the crystal.
[Would you like to enter the dungeon?]
He heard such a voice in his head. Lee Sungmin nodded slowly. Lee Sungmin’s body was wrapped in a floating feeling that made him feel like his whole body was rising up like clouds.
The landscape changed.
He had no time to look at the changed landscape. When Lee Sungmin’s feet touched the ground, a sharp force exploded toward him. The sudden attack was enough to surprise Lee Sungmin. He hurriedly moved back and lifted his spear.
jjooong! With a loud noise, Lee Sungmin’s body was pushed back. His hands that were grabbing the spear shook. This was the first time he had been subjected to such a heavy attack after becoming an ascendant. Lee Sungmin narrowed his eyes and looked at the attacker.
“… who are you?”
The giant man with a shaggy beard asked Lee Sungmin while staring. Lee Sungmin glanced at the giant axe held by him. Although the weapon was heavy, the strength that pushed him back was not due to the weight of the axe.
“… I’m Lee Sungmin.”
“Lee Sungmin?!”
He opened his eyes wide at those words.
“No way. Are you saying that you are the Ghost Gun?”
Lee Sungmin didn’t like the nickname so much. However, those who were excited by the rumors gave the title ‘Ghost Gun’ to Lee Sungmin, who had killed Ghost Blade, who killed Master Sungha. He had been named Ghost Gun for killing Ghost Blade. It was an unbecoming title. It wasn’t within his ability to kill Ghost Blade at that time. Perhaps it was thanks to the help of the black heart.
“… That’s right.”
Although it was unpleasant, Lee Sungmin nodded.
“Why are you here?”
He asked him, no longer wielding the axe.