Chapter 131

Hwan Bija, who was listening, was terrified.

“What the hell is that madman saying?!”

Seriously, of all things, he’s threatening ghosts?

Are there really people that insane?

“Didn’t you say your spirits grow stronger the longer you stay in one place? Isn’t that why you remain here on Hundred Ghost Mountain, in this Ghost Gorge where no living person sets foot? Aren’t you earthbound spirits who’ve trained your strength in this narrow gorge without interference from people?”

Yeon Mujin was right.

Ghosts enjoy tormenting people, but all the more they must keep their distance from the living.

For the dead, the life-force of the living is deadly.

“If you don’t intend to send us off peacefully, I’ll collapse this gorge where you live. If that happens, you’ll have to scatter from this Ghost Gorge. The dead should fear the living, not the other way around, right?”

But even so, it was the first time they’d seen a madman threaten ghosts.

Hwan Bija pushed through the people and stepped forward.

If they left it to that guy, they would surely incur the ghosts’ wrath.

To draw the ghosts’ anger in this Ghost Gorge?

There was nothing more terrible than that.

“Wait!”

At Hwan Bija’s shout, the ghosts’ wails quieted.

• Who’s there?

• It’s the Ghost Taoist.

• That man lives here on Hundred Ghost Mountain.

Even if they wouldn’t listen to others, they would heed Hwan Bija, who had long dealt with the ghosts of Hundred Ghost Mountain.

“The Ghost Taoist of Hundred Ghost Mountain will offer apologies to the mountain gods. We only wished to pass through the Ghost Gorge quietly; we had no intention of incurring the mountain gods’ wrath.”

• It’s already too late, Ghost Taoist.

• That man provoked us.

“He knows nothing. He’s someone who set foot on Hundred Ghost Mountain for the first time. He’s merely a warrior drunk on his own strength, ignorant of the ghosts’ power. Don’t the mountain gods know how arrogant and prideful warriors can be?”

The ghosts living in the Ghost Gorge are earthbound spirits that have guarded this place for decades, even before A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan was born.

It was these who, over the years, took the lives of countless martial artists who unknowingly set foot on Hundred Ghost Mountain.

Hwan Bija, knowing how terrifying they were, bowed his head and begged the ghosts’ forgiveness.

However.

• The Ghost Taoist of Hundred Ghost Mountain. A rudeness committed out of ignorance is still rudeness, isn’t it?

The ghosts’ anger echoed and spread through the gorge.

• That bastard not only insulted us but even threatened to collapse the Sacred Gorge. What happens when you disrespect the spirits in the spirits’ own domain?

• Buy forgiveness with your lives!

• You should try becoming ghosts of the Sacred Gorge yourselves!

Gugugugung!

With the gorge’s ground-rumble, the ghosts’ laughter spread.

At the same time, the winds whipping through the gorge grew fierce.

Thud-thud!

More stones began to fall from above the gorge.

A single misstep would mean being struck by falling rocks and having your head split open.

“What on earth…!”

Hwan Bija was flustered as he watched the ghosts ignore him.

He had come and gone from Hundred Ghost Mountain many times, but this was the first time he’d seen the gorge’s ghosts this agitated.

“Hey.”

At that moment, Yeon Mujin grabbed Hwan Bija’s shoulder and pulled him back, saying.

“We entered the gorge trusting you alone, and now the situation’s gone wrong.”

Hwan Bija muttered sharply.

“That’s all because of you!”

“So before I stepped up you should have stepped up and pacified the ghosts. Didn’t you loudly declare that Hundred Ghost Mountain was your territory? That we should just follow you?”

“……”

There was nothing to say to that argument.

After all, it was none other than Hwan Bija who had abetted the Flying Swallow Manor people into getting into trouble with the ghosts.

“Anyway, it’s too late now. If we dance to the ghosts’ tune we’ll all be crushed to death here. If we carry the Ghost Valley Manor Lord and run, how long do you think it will take to get out of the gorge?”

Hwan Bija gauged the remaining distance and answered how long it would take.

“The moment I draw my sword, you and your brothers carry the Ghost Valley Manor Lord and run. Se-gwang.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“You carry the manor lord and run. The remaining members should clear the way ahead of Se-gwang. Don’t look back and only think about getting out of the gorge.”

“What about you, Captain?”

“I’ll show those ghosts a lesson.”

“Manor Lord, I will carry you…!”

“Yes?”

“The captain ordered that the gorge be traversed quickly.”

“Then what about Captain Yeon?”

Yu Se-gwang glanced at Yeon Mujin and replied.

“The captain will come out on his own. The captain is the captain, after all.”

“Still…”

Thud-thud!

There was no time. The Ghost Gorge cries grew louder and the gorge’s vibrations shook more intensely.

“Master, there’s no time to hesitate!”

Confirming Bukgung Yoon strapped onto Yu Se-gwang’s back, Yeon Mujin issued orders to the External Protection Troops members.

“Ha Do-yeop and Yang Gwan-wol will clear the way from the front. If a form blocks the way, it’s a ghost—cut it down without hesitation. Even ghosts fear blades. Pyo Gang-hyeok, protect the Manor lord’s head from behind Yu Se-gwang. The moment I draw my sword, run without hesitation.”

“Yes!”

“What about the Ghost Valley Manor Lord?”

“Do not worry about the Ghost Valley Manor Lord’s safety. A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan are greater than you. You should focus on protecting the Manor lord.”

“Understood.”

• Where do you think you’re running off to!

Grrrrung!

Boulders fell from above their heads.

The enraged ghosts intended to bury them alive along with the gorge.

Shaaang!

Yeon Mujin drew his sword and sliced the falling rocks as finely as possible.

“Run!”

At that signal, the External Protection Troops members all charged forward.

“Open the way!”

“Protect the Manor lord!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Rocks kept falling ahead of them, blocking the path.

Yang Gwan-wol and Ha Do-yeop smashed the rocks blocking the way with their greatsword and great club.

Yu Se-gwang followed nimbly, and Pyo Gang-hyeok used the gorge as a springboard to leap and shatter the falling stones into pieces.

“Follow them!”

The A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan were no different.

The strongest, Bi Mokja, took the lead, and Gyu Guja stretched his limbs to bat away falling obstacles. Aija and Hwan Bija ran out protecting Bukgung Dam-deok.

People escaped the gorge faster than the ghosts could interfere.

The ghosts gave up trying to stop the fleeing people and set their sights on the one person left behind.

• At least you’ll be buried in this Ghost Gorge!

The ghosts clung to Yeon Mujin.

One pressed down on Yeon Mujin’s shoulder, one seized his left leg, another grabbed his right leg…

One ghost clung to Yeon Mujin’s ear, laughing incessantly, while others swarmed over his head and struck the gorge to try to bury him.

At Hundred Ghost Mountain, in the Ghost Gorge.

Alone, invited to the ghosts’ feast, Yeon Mujin simply smiled.

“You bastards, ghosts.”

“You’ve lived in this narrow gorge for decades.”

“I’ve been tied to that one family, living and dying for decades.”

“Let’s see whose lingering spirit is stronger here.”

“The living have all left.”

“Now only phantoms who cannot live their lives remain in this Ghost Gorge.”

“Then let’s have a feast among you wicked phantoms.”

Slash!

Yeon Mujin fought off the ghosts grabbing his feet and ran upward along the cliff.

He could feel the ghosts chasing him behind, even if he couldn’t see them.

Kraak!

Having run up to the middle of the cliff, Yeon Mujin drove his sword into the center and used it as a stake to brace himself against the wall.

“Feel what it’s like to have no home or place. You damned phantoms!”

As he pulled out his sword, Yeon Mujin swung it in all directions, spinning like a top as he fell.

Gururrrung!

The Ghost Gorge began to collapse, cut by the force of his sword.

• Have you ever seen such a madman!

Dozens of ghosts clung to Yeon Mujin as he fell with the collapsing gorge.

The Bukgung Family’s procession fleeing the gorge, with Aija running at the very end, exited the Ghost Gorge.

Then.

Thud!

The moment his body exited the gorge, a great roar sounded from within.

Without a moment to catch their breath, the people looked back.

Kugwakwang!

“The Ghost Gorge… is collapsing!”

With Hwan Bija’s hollow cry, the gorge was collapsing.

They could see the gorge slowly crumbling from the place they had just run out of.

Chunks of rock, cut away like icebergs, fell; a fallen boulder struck the opposite cliff with greater force, and the rock face, unable to withstand the impact, fractured like pottery, sending fissures spreading.

“Everyone, back away! The cliff is collapsing!”

When Pyo Gang-hyeok, who recovered first, shouted, the people finally retreated a safe distance from the Ghost Gorge.

Kwoooong!

Dust and stone powder rose and engulfed the mouth of the gorge.

If they hadn’t withdrawn in time, they would have been lost forever along with the gorge.

The path they had just passed could no longer be called a path. Only a vast cliff remained.

And.

• Kyaaak!

From atop the ruined gorge, the Ghost Gorge cries that had tormented them spread faintly.

As the gorge collapsed and the ghosts lost their home, Hwan Bija clearly saw the earthbound spirits scattering.

He knew: the ghosts for whom that place was their territory and home would never have destroyed the Ghost Gorge.

It was Yeon Mujin, who had been left alone, who had truly collapsed that massive gorge by himself.

‘That madman…!’

There really is no other explanation.

He chose to bury himself in the gorge bare-handed to fight the ghosts?

“What about Captain Yeon?”

Bukgung Yoon, who had dismounted from Yu Se-gwang’s back, spoke before the dust had even settled.

“Isn’t Yeon Daeju still in there?”

There was no trace of Yeon Mujin anywhere in the ruined Ghost Gorge.

“Member Yu Se-gwang, did Captain Yeon leave any words before we escaped? Did he say he went out to the other side?”

“……”

Yu Se-gwang avoided her gaze.

Yeon Mujin didn’t say that. He only instructed them to get out of the gorge as quickly as possible.

“Deputy Captain Yang, didn’t he order you to help Captain Yeon get out? Surely it’s not the case that only we slipped out like this.”

Yang Gwan-wol also lowered his gaze and gripped the hilt of his greatsword tightly.

They had been so focused on breaking through the front that they didn’t have the luxury to look back.

With ghosts screaming in their ears and the front collapsing, how could they pay attention to everything?

“Member Pyo Gang-hyeok, you were at the back, didn’t you see? Captain Yeon followed us too, right?”

“Well….”

Pyo Gang-hyeok was the same.

In the ruined gorge, Bukgung Yoon and the External Protection Troops members were equally distraught.

Because it was Yeon Mujin, because he was Yeon Mujin, everyone assumed he’d manage somehow and so paid him no mind.

They were exhausted from passing through the Ghost Gorge. Moreover, the command they’d been given was only one.

‘Protect the Manor Lord.’

Wasn’t that all?

So then….

“I’m sorry, captain!”

Yu Se-gwang knelt and spoke.

“We were so focused on getting out of the gorge that we couldn’t look after the captain! We should have helped the captain and stayed behind, but we didn’t. Please punish me!”

But Yang Gwan-wol stopped him.

“Se-gwang, you ran carrying the Manor lord — what are you talking about… It’s not you, it’s my fault.”

“It’s not the deputy captain’s fault. The deputy alone was enough to clear the way, but I…”

“No, if you put it that way, it’s my fault for being at the very back. Blame me, Manor lord!”

The External Protection Troops members all bowed their heads before Bukgung Yoon.

And.

“Alright, all of you, bury your heads and repent. You ungrateful children who abandoned your captain.”

Yeon Mujin’s voice was heard above their heads.