The Nature Of Betrayal (1)

In the Miao village where Song Seok-jin had been left behind—

While Neung Je-gang’s group rested three days’ distance away from the Heavenly Poison Grove, a group of strangers entered the Miao village.

They moved like bandits, ransacking homes until they found the unconscious Song Seok-jin. Moments later, he was in their hands, and the Miao villagers lay bleeding at their feet, slain by hidden assassins.

Ruthlessly, they searched every corner of the settlement, killing even the smallest children. Then, taking a path different from the one Je-gang’s party had traveled, they vanished into the wilderness.

When they were gone, only the thick scent of blood lingered over the silent village.

Unaware that Song Seok-jin had been taken by unknown men, Je-gang’s party walked lightheartedly, believing they were nearing their destination.

“The Miao village ahead will be the last one before we cross that peak,” said the old man Kang. “I’ll stay there. You all can go on and take care of your business.”

“Will it be safe for you, sir? What if they’re allied with the Heavenly Poison Grove? You could be in danger.”

“If this place is so dangerous, then why leave your comrade at the last Miao village? Consider me left behind the same way. My bones ache from the climb anyway, and I’ve known this village for years. Some of them will remember me—no need to worry.”

Still, Je-gang felt uneasy. He didn’t care about Song Seok-jin, but the old man was different. Though he had no martial skill, Kang had guided them faithfully all this way.

Yet Je-gang couldn’t bring himself to ask the elder to follow them further into the treacherous Heavenly Poison Grove. The sharp cliffs ahead spoke for themselves.

“Then please wait here. If we haven’t returned in ten days, you may head back on your own.”

“All right, all right.”

The old man took some food from the donkey’s packs, shared it among them, and led the donkey toward the village.

From afar, the group saw the Miao welcoming him warmly—a reassuring sight.

“Let’s move.”

Je-gang turned and began climbing toward the peak half-veiled by clouds. It was his turn to lead.

They climbed for some time before—

“Chief, I think we’re almost there.”

The trees thinned out, and above a certain height nothing grew. The vegetation formed a clear boundary below the mountain ridge.

Cheong Yeon, being the most agile, went ahead to scout. When he returned, he reported having found the Heavenly Poison Grove.

Following his lead, the group reached a vast plateau nestled between towering peaks. There was a lake, a forest, and rows of houses built as if painted into the landscape.

“Whistle… this place is enormous!”

The basin was surrounded on all sides by cliffs so high that even a mountain god might hesitate to look down from them—a natural fortress.

“This is truly heaven’s fortress,” said Je-gang. “How did the No-Poison Sect wipe this place out before?”

“Oh, that incident?” replied Bae Ji-sang. “Stories say the No-Poison Sect lost a third of its members in that battle. The Heavenly Poison Grove was destroyed, yes, but the casualties were heavier for the No-Poison Sect.”

“That explains why the Lord of the No-Poison Sect reacted so sharply when this place was mentioned. To think such a valley existed in these mountains… Still, doesn’t it seem too quiet?”

Even Je-gang’s sharp eyes saw few signs of movement within the settlement.

“Maybe they went to meet the second wave?”

“The second wave?”

Bae Ji-sang asked, puzzled.

There was no harm in telling them now.

“The Lord of the No-Poison Sect is marching here with his forces to wipe this place out.”

“What?!”

Only Bae Ji-sang looked shocked. Cheong Yeon and Jo Gwang-yeong seemed calm—Cheong Yeon, unexpectedly so.

Jo Gwang-yeong’s father was Jo Je-hun, so it made sense he’d already been told. But that Cheong Yeon knew too was surprising.

“If that’s the case, why did we suffer through all this just to get here?” Bae Ji-sang protested. His point wasn’t unreasonable—he saw no clear purpose behind their ordeal.

“We came to find out who’s backing the Heavenly Poison Grove. Destroying it is the Lord’s task. We’re here to capture Banwon—or anyone in the Grove—who can reveal the truth.”

“Damn it! But couldn’t the Lord of the No-Poison Sect learn that himself while wiping them out?”

Bae Ji-sang fumed, thinking the mission was needless.

“What if the Heavenly Poison Grove realizes it’s losing the fight?”

“Huh?”

“If you were the master of the Grove, and you knew defeat was certain, what would you do with the evidence of your backers?”

“I mean… it wouldn’t matter, would it? You’re doomed anyway.”

“Wrong. Once exposed, their backers would abandon them forever. But if they hide the evidence, they can be rebuilt—with help from the shadows. So they’ll conceal it.”

“…!”

“In a large-scale battle, once they start to lose, the key figures of the Grove will vanish—taking the proof with them. The hidden powers behind them can always resurrect them later. This very place,” Je-gang said, gazing down at the valley, “is a resurrected Heavenly Poison Grove. We’re here to uncover their backers before they retreat. Not to fight—though if it comes to that, we’ll fight.”

“I see… I was just being short-sighted.”

Bae Ji-sang accepted the reasoning without argument. Though once dislikable due to his friendship with Song Seok-jin, he seemed rather straightforward and free of grudges when seen apart.

“Cheong Yeon.”

“Yes, sir?”

“You already knew about the second wave?”

“I suspected as much.”

“How?”

“We were too few. If I’d been ordered to bring an elite squad like the Bloody Vein Unit, I wouldn’t have expected reinforcements. But being sent in light—well, that spoke for itself.”

“Heh. You haven’t lost your old instincts.”

“What one learns never really fades, does it?”

At her reply, Je-gang smiled faintly. Indeed, even those who left the same school of thought could never quite abandon its ways.

“Let’s find a path in.”

“Yes.”

Je-gang knew the best way to infiltrate the Heavenly Poison Grove—by tunneling.

Majil could dig a passage in no time, but his ability was best kept secret. In the martial world, they say one should hide thirty percent of their strength—so Majil’s talent was something to conceal.

Fortunately, Cheong Yeon soon found a descending path into the basin. It was far from any main routes, hidden by thick forest from view below—perfect for a quiet entry, so long as nothing unexpected happened.

“This might help.”

Je-gang drew out the rope woven from Heaven-Silk Fiber. Though short, thousands of strands linked together made a line of impressive length.

He tied one end to his Unfeeling Sword and lowered the rest. It nearly reached the ground. As long as they avoided cutting themselves on the fibers, they could descend even without lightness skill.

Cheong Yeon went first, wrapping the rope a few times around her sword for tension and using her Light Step technique to land safely below.

Jo Gwang-yeong followed in much the same way.

Go So-jeong, once a spy, excelled at such maneuvers. She didn’t even use the rope—simply kicked off tree trunks midair and landed silently in the forest below.

The problem was Bae Ji-sang. His lightness skill was mediocre, and the Heaven-Silk Fiber posed a serious danger. A man who relied on throwing weapons couldn’t afford injured hands. He wore his poison-handling gloves, but still looked uneasy.

“Use this.”

Majil pulled something from his robe and tossed it to him.

Je-gang looked closer—it was the same pair of cloth cuffs Majil’s master had given him when they escaped from Golden Demon Thunder.

“You still have that?”

“Chief, that thing saved my life! It’s my treasure number one.”

Considering it had once helped them survive, calling it a treasure wasn’t wrong.

Bae Ji-sang eyed the shabby cuffs skeptically but figured if they were called a treasure, they might indeed be special. Trusting Majil, he gripped the Heaven-Silk Fiber and leapt down.

Rrrrip—

‘Treasure, my ass.’

The cuffs tore instantly. The Heaven-Silk Fiber sliced through them and even nicked his Poison Hand Gloves. Thankfully, he reached the ground before they were shredded completely.

Looking at the ruined cuffs, Bae Ji-sang winced. Knowing Majil’s temper, there was no telling how he’d react—maybe he’d even bury him like he did Song Seok-jin.

‘Damn it… shouldn’t have borrowed it.’

He regretted it deeply.

Majil infused his hands with Adamantine Metal True Energy. Among them, he was the worst at Light Step. His martial arts allowed running, not flying, so his only option was to grip the Heaven-Silk Fiber and descend by force.

But then Je-gang began reeling the rope up.

“Hey, Chief! I’m not down yet!”

“You’ll stay here. While we handle things inside, dig a tunnel from this forest to the inner basin.”

“What?”

“Just dig. The soil’s crumbly, so it’ll be tricky.”

Je-gang scooped up a handful of dirt—so dry it turned to powder instantly.

“Digging’s my specialty, sure, but what am I supposed to do after that?”

“Wait in the tunnel. Relax.”

“Heh-heh! Works for me. Go get ’em, Chief!”

As Majil headed downhill to start digging, Je-gang threw himself from the cliff. Unlike Go So-jeong, he didn’t use trees for leverage—he simply dropped, landing soundlessly.

The others stared in quiet awe. Even by lightness skill alone, Je-gang’s mastery was clear.

“What about Majil?” asked Cheong Yeon.

“He’s not coming. His Light Step is useless.”

“Then?”

“He’ll wait down below.”

Je-gang hid the truth. Jo Gwang-yeong, Bae Ji-sang, even Cheong Yeon—none could yet be trusted completely.

And Go So-jeong, though now an ally, was still part of the Martial Alliance. Complete trust wasn’t guaranteed.

The final escape route must remain hidden—until the very end.