Book 16 Chapter 21
The Identity of the Silver Masked Ones
Bilyeon and his companions were able to track the Silver Masked Ones far more easily than they had expected by following the loosened thread. And when they finally found the place where they were hiding, everyone was astonished.
The three of them were roasting a whole wild boar, caught from somewhere, over a fire, turning it slowly. A woman, entirely wrapped in red clothing, was urging them to hurry, while a short, stocky old man was diligently turning the roasted pig. The delicious smell stung their nostrils. Come to think of it, they seemed to have missed two meals while tracking.
“Oh? We have guests after a long time.”
The stocky old man, who was diligently turning the pig, spoke without looking back. Bilyeon and his companions were still hidden in the bushes.
“What brings you all the way here? Don't hide, come out.”
A tall old man wearing a silver mask spoke in a gentle voice. Moyonghwi doubted if this was the same terrifying voice he had heard that night. Back then, it felt like pure terror, but seeing him like this in broad daylight, it even felt strangely intimate.
“Don't crouch there, come out.”
The tall old man in white robes said. No longer able to hide, Bilyeon and his companions emerged from the bushes, not letting their guard down.
“You found your way here?”
“We have a few meager skills.”
Bilyeon replied with uncharacteristic modesty.
“It's commendable that you came this far, but since you're here, you must be prepared, right?”
“We're prepared enough to share that roasted pig with you!”
The three of them laughed heartily at the unexpected answer, seeming amused.
“Ho ho ho, you're an amusing child. I like you. So, what is your business?”
“I have one question.”
“A question?”
“About the death of a person.”
“Death?”
The three Silver Masked Ones flinched and questioned. Bilyeon observed them closely, determined not to miss their every move.
‘They’re reacting like that…’
“What was his name?”
“His name was An Myeonghu!”
Finally, Bilyeon said.
“What? An Myeonghu is dead!”
The short old man let out a roar that seemed to shake the mountain and closed the distance in an instant. To anyone else, it would have looked like he had teleported. Smoke rose from the ground as if it had been scorched by friction. It was dust.
The old man clearly intended to grab Bilyeon by the collar. He intended to squeeze his neck and extract a confession from him, who was suffering from respiratory distress, unable to breathe. However, his hand stopped an inch before Bilyeon’s collar, and that distance could not be closed further. Surprise flickered in his eyes. He realized he had narrowly avoided his Gumnasu.
“I doubted my eyes when I saw you before, but you're truly no ordinary fellow!”
“I don't know when you saw me, but it's no fun if I'm the same as everyone else, right?”
Bilyeon replied with a smile, not losing his composure. It was an astonishing display of courage, remaining calm even in a situation that could be a matter of life and death.
“Your speech is truly impressive! Impressive! And your courage is great, child!”
The woman exclaimed, but her expression quickly turned somber.
“Child, say it again! Did you say that An Myeonghu of Guchokcheolsimian is dead?”
“I don't know if his alias is Palcheok or Gucheok, but his name is definitely An Myeonghu. To be precise, he was murdered.”
Feeling the killing intent, which had spread like a net in all directions, dissipate, Bilyeon also slightly eased his guard.
“Th-this is…”
The lips of the tall old man stiffened, and a groan escaped through them. All three of them, possessing the power to overturn the world, were surprised by such a trivial matter.
What kind of events were intertwined?
He became curious about the full story.
“To think that such a thing would happen in the moment I looked away…”
“We were too engrossed in our pleasures. Lost in the fun of playing with the children, we forgot about important matters…”
“It's all of our responsibility.”
All three of them uttered a remark each.
“Oh? You didn't know either?”
Jang Hong stepped forward and asked.
“Not only did we not know, but if we had known something like this was happening, we would have overturned the world to stop it.”
A somber atmosphere filled the air. Bilyeon, rendered speechless, couldn't continue.
“It seems something has happened.”
“What do we do now?”
“Let's rack our brains.”
The three of them whispered and discussed opinions.
“What on earth are your identities…?”
Bilyeon asked, bewildered. It was truly a unique gathering. They were impossible to be the same people who had recently introduced themselves as 'Fear', 'Despair', and 'Sorrow'.
“Ah, us?”
The small, plump person said. Bilyeon nodded.
“As for us…”
“We are like this.”
Suddenly, their voices changed, and the atmosphere surrounding them transformed.
All three of them took off their masks simultaneously.
“No way, those three people…”
The voice of the Great Disciple Bi trembled violently. His gaze shifted to one side. There stood the three most famous people in the martial arts world. They all nodded.
“Do you remember us now?”
At Doseong's words, all three took something out of their pouches and put it on their faces.
“Gasp!”
Sounds of gasping could be heard from here and there. What the three put on their faces were none other than coldly shining silver masks.
“W-why would you do something like this…”
Great Disciple Bi asked, forcing himself to calm down.
“I'll answer that for you!”
The one who chimed in, saying so, was Hyukjung.
“At this Mount Hua branch gathering, you have something you want to ask of us?”
Cheomseong asked the old man in a respectful tone. That old man, Hyukjung, deserved it. He was worthy enough to receive the example of the Heavenly Martial Three Stars.
“Ah, yes. What do you think of the children gathered outside?”
“I think they are very talented children. To reach this level at that age, they must have put in a lot of effort. Their talent, and…”
“Then how do they compare to that friend?”
Doseong stood at the fingertip of the old man.
“I don't think there's any point in comparison.”
Cheomseong answered honestly. Comparison is an act needed for things of similar difference. Comparing the height of the sky to the height of a tree is not comparison.
“These children were carefully selected and passed through dozens of tests. They can be called prodigies… It's no exaggeration to say they are the most promising talents in the martial arts world. But what these children have experienced is still small. They are like flowers in a greenhouse, nothing more. But these children don't know that. What we have experienced, and what they have not yet experienced… that could be their fortune or their misfortune.”
“What is that…”
Cheomseong's voice lowered slightly. Hyukjung nodded. One must teach a frog in a well about the vastness of the sky.
“What I want to ask of you is to teach them that. The overwhelming fear (恐怖)…”
It was ironic that the current martial arts world was united thanks to Wi Cheonmu, the Heavenly Calamity Blood God. Without him, the martial arts world would not have been reorganized into two major pillars. Of course, institutions for martial arts research, exchange, and development like the Heavenly Martial Academy or Macheongak would not have been born, nor would they have dedicated themselves to obsessive martial arts development.
The fear that the Heavenly Calamity Spirit might be revived led them to seek power to counter it. The martial arts of the martial arts world developed to a higher level, thanks to the free sword discussions and debates among the members of each sect who felt their current martial arts were insufficient, complementing their shortcomings and nurturing their strengths. Without the Heavenly Calamity Blood God, this would probably not have happened. They might still be spending sleepless nights in endless conflict. Or they might have been annihilated altogether.
Of course, the righteous and unrighteous factions had made a surface agreement of reconciliation, and exchanges between the two groups had become active, but the conflict of interests between the two groups had not been completely resolved. The involvement of interests was a problem that always caused trouble, anywhere and anytime. However, they still had self-restraint, so it did not surface overtly and was always resolved in the shadows.
The Mount Hua Covenant Gathering was a place for martial arts exchange between the righteous and unrighteous factions, a shield and a sword to deal with future threats, an impenetrable wall to protect the martial arts world, a harbinger of Danokdanggang (斷玉斷鋼) to defeat threats, and a stage to create the strongest shield and the strongest sword. And in addition to this, there was another goal, one of which was to find the key keeper.
“Why did the martial arts world of a hundred years ago forget the distinction between black and white and unite as one?”
Hyukjung asked.
“It's undeniable that the fear of 'that' played that role.”
“It wasn't just fear. We had to keenly feel fear, despair, and sorrow. They need to unite. Although it's only on the surface, after a hundred years of peace, the martial arts world is fragmented again. They all put their own interests and pride first and don't try to unite. They need to unite.”
“Why don't you teach them directly?”
Cheomhu asked.
“You know well, don't you? There are things that can be taught, and things that cannot be taught. Knowledge passed on by others cannot be called true knowledge. It's not true knowing. True knowing can only be attained when what arises from within one's own heart is confirmed, acknowledged, and accepted. Don't we need to engrave it truly in their hearts?”
That was true. One must feel it for oneself.
“What if those children don't unite…?”
“The power that fails to unite will crumble like a sandcastle. If they don't learn the true lesson, there is only death. They will realize how much wise choices benefit survival through direct experience. Will you do it?”
“It sounds fun.”
Doseong replied.
“It's also interesting.”
Cheomhu replied.
“Of course, we accept, Big Brother!”
Cheomseong replied.
“We didn't know we would do something so brutal for such a simple reason. Ah, it was quite exciting here too!”
Bilyeon seemed to like it.
“Hmph, can sand grains unite in such a way? It's just a temporary compromise. They'll just divide again soon.”
“Unity bound by violence and oppression is also temporary! In any case, it seems more right to encourage voluntary participation. It lasts longer too.”
“How did you find out the identity of that person?”
Bi pointed to Udunwu, who was still lying unconscious.
“Ah, that was a coincidence.”
Bilyeon said, sticking out his index finger.
“By the way, the lead is completely broken! What do we do now?”
Doseong said in a somber tone. He had clearly witnessed something important and intended to report it here. The scale of the group chasing him was enough to understand how important the fact he witnessed was. However, they all committed suicide, and only An Myeonghu remained. But then, he died in the moment he looked away. The taste was bitter.
“It's too early to jump to conclusions.”
At Bilyeon's words, the heads of the two people spun at a dazzling speed.
Thud!
A strange friction sound echoed from his neck vertebrae, but he ignored it.
“Is there something?”
The eyes of both of them sparkled identically.
“I heard a few things. It's fragmented information, but it's better than nothing, right?”
“What is it? Don't drag it out, speak quickly.”
Jang Hong, unable to overcome his impatience, urged him on.
“He was in a coma the whole time, did he find something out? How? Did you learn mind-reading?”
“Mind-reading, what? I haven't learned such convenient skills yet. I just heard it as I passed by.”
“Heard what?”
“Sleep-talking!”
“Sleep-talking? You mean mumbling while sleeping?”
People looked at Bilyeon with incredulous expressions.
“Ah, that's right, sleep-talking. He seemed to be having a terrible nightmare. He was calling out people's names, they seemed to be his subordinates. They all died during the mission. Well, that's common for such people… but it seemed to have been a big shock.”
“And then?”
Bilyeon paused for a moment, as if reminiscing, and continued.
“I didn't pay much attention back then. But he said something I couldn't just let slide.”
“What was it?”
Gulp!
People swallowed dryly and listened intently to Bilyeon's words. With the resolve not to miss a single word.
“Mount Hua… is in… danger… He said that.”
“This place is dangerous?”
“Were there any more specific details? With just such a vague content, we can't properly grasp the current situation. Well, murders have already occurred, so it is certainly dangerous though…”
Jang Hong said.
“Come to think of it, he also said something like this. Uh… that is to say…"
“Hmm?”
“Yonglin… Yeom-u (炎雨)… He said that. I don't know what it is, but he was sweating profusely when he said it. His expression was as serious as when he was calling out his dying subordinates.”
‘Yonglin… Yeom-u… It sounds like I've heard it somewhere… Where did I hear it?’
Jang Hong cursed his own forgetful brain, which turned bad at times when it needed to be good.
“Yonglin! Yeom-u!”
At that moment, Doseong shouted in shock. Cheomseong, startled by this sudden reaction, quickly asked,
“What's wrong? Do you know something?”
In response to Cheomseong's question, Doseong scanned the people with a serious gaze and said in a grim voice,
“You all know I'm a wanderer, right? So I hear a lot of things. And sometimes I come into contact with information that ordinary people can't easily access.”
“You've taken long enough. Speak quickly before the rice gets cold.”
“Yeom-u refers to a specially manufactured high-purity oil. I heard it's highly volatile and requires extreme caution in handling. And Yonglin is an item that pairs with that Yeom-u, and it was treated with utmost special care by the legendary sect, Byeokryukgung.”
“The legendary Byeokryukgung…”
Cheomseong also remembered hearing about it.
“Yes, but it's legendary because it no longer exists in this world… it was destroyed about 120 years ago. It is said that their gunpowder manufacturing and application technology was too dangerous. There were also rumors that some of that technology flowed into the military. Whether it's true or not, it hasn't been confirmed. It is said that Yeommarae, which belongs to the Seven Great Golden Dragon Ammunition, also originated from that place. But how did an item from a sect that disappeared 120 years ago appear here?”
Meanwhile, Bilyeon's train of thought, guided by free association, had reached a completely different place. He seemed not to be very interested in the story of a sect that had already been destroyed.
‘Oil? Cooking? Delicious food? Big build? Masked person? Beggar? Nohak?’
By piecing together the fragmented pieces he had heard from various sources, he was able to find a fact he had overlooked in the blanks of the incomplete picture.
That was the testimony of Nohak. If he could reveal the identities of two of the four people Nohak had witnessed – it was undoubtedly obvious that they were involved in this matter – he might be able to fit the missing pieces. And a place where one of them might be suddenly came to mind.
Nohak's testimony, which he had completely forgotten until now, suddenly came back to him.
‘That bear-like masked person… uh, it's hard to describe, but… he looked delicious.’
Yeom-u was oil. If someone were to plan something, an ordinary amount would not be enough. Then, where would be the safest and most inconspicuous place to hide such a dangerous item? Why did Nohak instinctively feel that the person looked so delicious the first moment he saw him? He didn't have a cannibalistic hobby.
‘Delicious things are cooking, making mouths water is also cooking… What is most necessary for cooking? A place where large amounts of oil can be used without suspicion, a place where many goods must be constantly brought in and out, a place where the most oil is used, a place where food for hundreds of people must be prepared…’
“The kitchen!”
Bilyeon suddenly shouted loudly, surprising everyone.
“What?”
“The kitchen! A place where a large amount of oil is used and still not enough, a place where a large amount of oil can be kept without suspicion, what other place would that be besides the kitchen?”
It seemed that having been a chef for a long time, the smell had rubbed off on him without him realizing it. In that place, hiding such items would have been as easy as pie, and it would have been easy to plot something with them.
Upon hearing it, it was indeed true. Bilyeon's reasoning seemed very plausible and worthy of thorough consideration. Doseong exclaimed,
“Let's go!”
What followed proceeded at lightning speed. Bilyeon, with a little coercion and persuasion, induced Nohak's voluntary participation, and they headed straight for the restaurant. And Nohak recognized him at a glance. He hadn't noticed him because he had been confined to the isolated place that was the kitchen. His build was not something that could be hidden by wrapping it in black cloth. Bilyeon and his companions soon began their work, and after securing him without much difficulty, they were able to extract the general outline of the matter using highly political and slightly fist-based techniques. Furthermore, they were able to find the oil, brought in disguised as food, in the warehouse. The place where the oil was brought was surprisingly the 'Jungwon Express'! However, they didn't have time to worry about such details.