Book 10 Chapter 8

Entering the Phantom Demon Cave (환마동)

The inside of the Phantom Demon Cave was wider than expected.

At the end of the single path leading from the entrance, there was a fairly large plaza.

And there, one senior examiner was waiting.

Torches were embedded on both sides of the plaza, so darkness was not felt. Walking a little further into the plaza, multiple paths appeared. Counting them, there were eight in total. Each path had a door.

"Choose which one to enter!"

The examiner in charge of the progression said. It seemed they had to choose one of these to enter. As Biryu-yeon pondered where to go, Jang Hong's words suddenly came to mind. Then, he felt a surge of defiance.

"The fourth one!"

Biryu-yeon said.

The examiner, without a word, opened the fourth door. Darkness, whose depth was unfathomable, appeared behind the opened door. Biryu-yeon stepped into it without hesitation.

Screeeeeech! Thump!

As the door closed, all traces of light vanished from the world. Darkness filled Biryu-yeon's surroundings.

"Huh?"

Light disappeared, and only darkness existed. He couldn't find anything emitting light anywhere. It felt as if the walls completely blocked out all light. The paths were so dark that it was impossible to distinguish up, down, left, or right. If he hadn't trained his eye technique to see in the dark, he would have been completely blind.

"Huh? What's that smell?"

A very peculiar fragrance permeated the entire Phantom Demon Cave. It was a scent that was difficult to describe, possessing a power to make one's body feel incredibly comfortable.

"Sniff sniff! It doesn't seem like a poison smell!"

He didn't know what effect it had, but he was relieved that it didn't seem to be poisonous. Although it didn't interfere with his breathing, it was clear that it wasn't simply meant to eliminate the smell of a cave. And he couldn't discern the source of this unique scent. The fragrance blocked his path like a fog. He presumed everyone else was having a similar experience.

"If you stop, you only stagnate."

Biryu-yeon walked forward without hesitation. Even after walking for a long time, there were no sudden traps or hidden mechanisms that threatened human life. It was so bland that it was boring.

"What on earth is inside here?"

Even Biryu-yeon didn't know yet.

"Damn it, why can't I see anything?"

After walking for a while, Biryu-yeon muttered, pouting.

"Was the oil cost that much? Stingy…"

He believed that while one needed to save their own money, there was no need to save others' money. Still, Biryu-yeon thought this time was excessive. This was because the cave was so dark that he couldn't see even a short distance. He wasn't afraid of the dark, but he preferred light to no light. Fortunately, thanks to his excellent eyesight, he could distinguish objects without relying on light.

Biryu-yeon now stood at a fork in the road. As expected, it seemed to be a maze. One was a steep cave that looked rough and challenging. The other was a gentle slope with a flat path.

"Which way should I go to be praised?"

Biryu-yeon decided to think for a moment. However, his deliberation didn't last long. The reason Biryu-yeon detested those who boasted of being from prestigious sects was that, despite their eloquent words and polished appearances, when faced with a triple threat of difficulty, hardship, and loneliness, they sought ways to avoid it rather than confront it.

What were they so afraid of?

Scars? Injuries? Separation? Or death?

Hardship was, after all, a system designed for the challenger to face artificial and planned dangers. There was no changing that. If so, shouldn't one at least have the courage to face it head-on and break through! But…

"Safety first above all else!"

Biryu-yeon, who believed it was generally more advantageous to take a flat path than a rough one, began to choose the easy path without hesitation.

He had a tendency to act too impulsively, which was not a good habit at all. There was a proverb that said to test even stepping stones before crossing, but his actions were like crossing them with his eyes closed.

"All participants have completed their entry."

Upon hearing the report from the chief examiner, Binggeom, Majinga nodded.

"Now, we can only pray that this trial ends without further incident."

Majinga said.

"What will they see in there?"

Binggeom knew what the Phantom Demon Cave was like from the explanation. However, he had never experienced it himself. Therefore, he too couldn't know what people would experience inside.

"They might see the most terrifying things in this world. Or they might go through the most heartbreaking experiences. Fear might consume them. Some even went mad, unable to bear the shock."

Binggeom also remembered seeing such a person when he visited the Medical Records Hall. What did they see in there that… Only those who experienced it could answer.

"Everything depends on their mental strength and will. I have nothing more to say than to encourage them to do their best."

Majinga stood up from his seat. The hem of his martial robe fluttered in the wind.

"Close the gate!"

Following Majinga's command, the gate of the Phantom Demon Cave was firmly shut.

"Now, all we can do is wait. Finding the exit is their task."

"Where are you walking so urgently, like a man who needs to relieve himself?"

"……?"

Biryu-yeon looked at the face of the person blocking his path.

'Huh? Doesn't that face look familiar?'

It was definitely a familiar face. Perhaps sickeningly so…

"Y-You are!"

As he slowly examined the person's face, Biryu-yeon's eyes widened. His composure gradually disappeared. He, who had never been tense before, was now fully alert and tense.