Among the numerous peaks of the Qilian Mountains, there was a peculiar place.

It was clearly not far from the summit, yet a mountain shadow, as if watching over, was cast from sunrise to sunset.

It was a place where only darkness was full, day and night, so those who came and went would often just glance at it and pass by.

Also, the fog that wrapped around the mountainside gathered as if it were trapped and flowed naturally, so it was impossible to know what was inside.

However, the four-legged beasts that sensed the sinister feeling flowing from within the hidden place did not dare to set foot in it, and the birds flew, avoiding the area above it.

But there were definitely people inside.

In that place hidden by shadow and fog, there were numerous pavilions, all lacquered black.

And numerous shadows came and went, without even lighting a fire.

"Hmm…"

At the edge of a dizzyingly high cliff.

An old man, standing on the low-flowing fog with his hands behind his back, frowned as he looked down at the cliff below, which was no different from a bottomless pit.

He was the master of the shaded mountain foothills, Jin Gumyeong.

"It's extremely noisy."

What displeased him were the lights that filled the mountain ridges everywhere, even though it was already late at night.

At his displeased muttering, Muak, who was by his side like an attendant or a guard, answered politely.

"They are said to be ginseng diggers and hunters."

"Ginseng diggers and hunters?"

"Yes."

"How did they get this deep? It shouldn't be their path. There shouldn't be a path either."

It was a strange thing.

The place where they stayed was a place where each valley was guarded by a different mountain lord (tiger), and not only were there packs of wolves, but there were also many snake dens everywhere, so people did not visit recklessly.

A place with few people.

No, a place artificially created to have few people.

The reason the beasts overflowed around where they stayed was because of the formation that had been spread using the terrain.

It stimulated the instincts of the insignificant creatures and made them gather, and awakened the demonic nature inherent within them, so even a grass-eating rabbit would not run away and would bare its teeth at a predator.

But ginseng diggers and hunters?

Those who knew the mountain paths would be able to sense danger just by looking at the footprints or droppings of beasts…

And it was incomprehensible that they were making such a fuss not only during the day but also at night.

"A rumor is circulating."

"A rumor?"

"Yes."

"What kind of rumor?"

When Jin Gumyeong asked with a frown, Muak answered.

"A fifty-year-old fleeceflower root and a golden-horned rat are said to have been discovered."

"Fleeceflower root and a golden-horned rat?"

"Yes."

"Hah! Were there such spiritual things in this Qilian?"

"It seems we failed to discover them."

"Hmm…"

Jin Gumyeong's brow furrowed even more.

They had patrolled the mountain for generations.

Even though they hid in the shadows, concealed themselves with formations, and did not even light a fire, they had always paid attention to outside gazes and had lived in tension for hundreds of years.

The experience accumulated over that long period had been passed down through generations, but the existence of spiritual herbs and spiritual beasts had never been recorded.

"Well, how can a person know all of this deep Qilian? Sometimes the eyes of a mountain person are brighter than the eyes of a warrior…"

"What should we do?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you command, I will take measures."

At Muak's calm words, Jin Gumyeong shook his head.

What did he mean by measures?

Since they were assassins, it was surely a murderous change.

There was no need to draw attention by killing them directly, so sending mountain beasts would be more than enough to chase them away.

"I forbid it."

"…"

"Not now. The eyes of the Central Plains that are chasing us are cold. Also, the Cult is not pleased with us because of the past incident."

"But."

"It's not good to gather even a small gaze. The great task is at hand. The main mountain will remain silent until the matter of the Tang Family is over."

"…"

"Relay the message. Do not be swayed by external movements, thicken the formations, and be wary of the invasion of outsiders. Also, tell the training instructors to forbid all training. For the time being, carefully observe the surroundings of the main building and focus on cultivating your internal energy."

"Understood."

At Jin Gumyeong's words, Muak answered politely.

Since the order had already been given, there was no need to question it.

"Muak."

"Yes, Lord of Assassins."

"What's important is the Samyang Divine Art."

"I know."

"You may leave."

At Jin Gumyeong's words, Muak, who had bowed his head politely, disappeared.

"Hoo…"

Jin Gumyeong, who was staring down at the cliff, took a long breath and recalled the events of just a while ago.

After searching and searching through the erased history, he had found the descendants of the Eight Immortals in three places in the Central Plains.

He had to be careful.

Having settled in the depths of the Qilian Mountains for hundreds of years, the masters of the Jingagu had pursued the same goal for generations, so had they discovered them only once or twice?

But they had never achieved their goal.

Because every time they were discovered, they had hidden like ghosts.

So he did not make a fuss.

He suppressed his joy inwardly and calmed his excitement.

Because he knew that if he reported first and then failed, the blame would be much greater.

When he had failed in the matter of Qingcheng, hadn't Heukmu come and said so?

That the master was greatly disappointed.

So confirmation was first, and securing them was the priority.

Thus, he had dispatched three High Heavenly Ghosts to different places, and had thought that they would all return with the Samyang.

But they had all failed.

"Tang Family… Tang Cheonyeong."

It was him again.

Jin Gumyeong emanated killing intent with narrowed eyes.

It was a killing intent so thick that even the fog at his feet was startled and scattered.

At first, he didn't know for what reason the man had visited Anhui, and had only vaguely guessed his intentions, but now he knew.

The man had been aiming for Samyang Divine Art from the beginning.

How he had found out was not important.

The man's actions were important.

He had gone to Byeon Gil-tae before them, and had sent people to Guangdong and Guangxi.

"Damn bastard, I should have gotten rid of him sooner."

Jin Gumyeong bit his lip.

If he had dealt with him right away when he first learned of him, something like this would not have happened.

He had thought he was not even worth paying attention to, and had not wanted to cause a fuss and attract the attention of the people of the Central Plains.

That neglect had created the current situation.

It was his responsibility.

Because he had not made the right judgment.

But now, that was the end of it too.

Three High Heavenly Ghosts had headed for the Tang Family.

With the three of them, they would be able to have a direct confrontation with a master who was said to have pioneered the realm of absolutes.

There were also a hundred Special Grade and assistant assassins to help them.

Of course, news had arrived from Jin Palhyo that two of the Three Western Sovereigns had visited the Tang Family.

Seoak Maeng Segwang, Sword Immortal Changlim Il-woo.

But he was not greatly worried.

Hadn't he known about them for a long time?

Divided by the righteous and unorthodox, they had not gotten along since they were young.

But to join forces and help the Tang Family? It would be a relief if they didn't fight each other.

Tang Cheonyeong would surely die.

There would be nothing left alive in the Tang Family.

He did not doubt that the High Heavenly Ghosts would return with the Samyang Divine Art, and that his mission would be over.

He was going back.

To his hometown…

But for some reason?

He should have been happy thinking about the Samyang Divine Art that would come into his hands, but a corner of his heart was full of anxiety.

What on earth was this anxiety?

Was it because he had not yet received a message from High Heavenly Ghost Jin Palhyo?

No.

The High Heavenly Ghosts, who had been granted independent action, did not report unless it was a special matter.

If there had been a problem with them, wouldn't he have been the first to know?

Jin Gumyeong put his hand in his pocket and habitually fiddled with the small medicine bottle he was carrying.

The Gu connected to the three High Heavenly Ghosts.

Wasn't it still intact?

"I'm just being oversensitive. Since the great task is at hand, I'm this nervous."

It was just a groundless fear.

Jin Gumyeong, who tried hard to shake off his complicated feelings, let out a dry laugh.

It seemed it would be better to rest for a while.

Seeing as he was on edge even over small things, it must be because his body was tired.

* * *

"It seems it wasn't it this time either."

"Yes."

At No Gwanyeong's words, Cheonyeong, who had just returned from the mountain, nodded.

"My, how many times has it been already?"

"It hasn't even been a few days yet."

"That's true, but… we keep spending money."

As No Gwanyeong trailed off and frowned, Cheonyeong smiled faintly.

"Isn't it a wide place? There must be one or two similar places."

"I know. Why wouldn't I? But it seems the hunters are only after the money."

"Well, that could be."

"Pardon?"

"We just need one of them to be right."

"Hoo, the search has already been going on for over a month. I often hear that some of the hunters and ginseng diggers are tired and have come down from the mountain."

"It doesn't matter. It will be filled with others anyway."

"Gosh, you're so relaxed, Lord. I'm just getting frustrated because we keep coming up empty…"

Cheonyeong just smiled.

On the contrary, it seemed No Gwanyeong was the one getting impatient.

But it didn't matter how much time or money it took.

Because he had been waiting for this moment.

"Shall we have a drink?"

"A drink?"

"Yes, you're pacing around so much that I'm getting anxious. Come over here."

At Cheonyeong's words, No Gwanyeong, who let out a deep sigh, came over and sat down as if he couldn't win.

"Senior Brothers, have a drink too. Seongyeon, you have a drink too."

"I am a Taoist. It is for my training that I abstain from alcohol…"

"Then do so."

"Pardon?"

"I'm not the type to ask twice."

As Cheonyeong turned his head away coldly, Yoo Seongyeon's face contorted.

He wasn't going to drink anyway.

Still, shouldn't a person ask twice?

Just as a bottle of liquor was being emptied, leaving Yoo Seongyeon with a pouting lip.

"Is the merchant group leader here?"

A hunter in a beast fur coat opened the inn door and peeked his head in, and Yoo Seongyeon, who had been pushed out of the drinking party, greeted him perfunctorily.

"What is it?"

"Ah, that is… I just came back from the mountain, and I came to report because the place I saw seemed to be the place you're looking for, but also not. But is it true that you're giving one nyang of gold?"

At his words, the people at the drinking party, who had shown a brief interest, soon turned their heads away, and Yoo Seongyeon sighed with a frown.

In the end, it was about money again.

It's not like they think we're suckers.

From the way he spoke, it seemed clear that he had come just to earn some money.

"Please tell me in detail. Yes, what kind of place did you find?"

"That is, it was a cliff similar to the one you're looking for."

"Was there a valley below? And did water flow?"

"I think so…"

"Pardon? Then it was, not it seemed to be. What do you mean, it seemed to be?"

At the eyewitness account that seemed not even worth listening to, Yoo Seongyeon said curtly.

"That is, the cliff was so high. I'm not sure if it was the sound of water."

"Then what about the red pine grove?"

"I didn't see that."

"You didn't see it?"

"Yes. That's why I was also unsure and came here to ask. But even though there were no red pines, there was a wide open space."

"Ah, yes. I see."

At the words that there were no red pines, Yoo Seongyeon listened perfunctorily, even cleaning his ears.

While preparing to kick him out…

"But there was something a little peculiar."

"What?"

"There were a lot of stakes driven in."

"Stakes?"

"Yes, they seemed to have been driven in a long time ago, so they were rotten, but I could tell right away. That someone had deliberately driven them in."

"Maybe they were trying to build a bridge."

"I don't think so. There were only traces left, but the stakes were driven along the cliff, so it didn't seem like the purpose was to build a bridge."

There was no need to listen further.

Wasn't the place they were looking for a place with a red pine grove?

"Unfortunately, the place we are looking for is…"

Yoo Seongyeon's face, who was about to send the hunter away, suddenly hardened.

Because a chillingly cold killing intent had reached his side.

"So? Where is that place?"

Cheonyeong, who had come up behind him, was asking with his wide-open eyes flashing.

(End of Chapter)