Chapter 185 Infiltrating the Emperor’s Tomb – Part 1

Chapter 185: Infiltrating the Emperor’s Tomb – Part 1

The Madu guards patrolling the outer passage watched the torches of their departing comrades for a moment. When the light faded, they turned to each other and resumed their chatter.

“Did you see the size of that leopard just now?”

“Yeah. It was as big as a tiger.”

“You think that bastard Zhu Gui might have crawled into that leopard’s belly?”

“Oh, come on. Even at his peak, he’d be no match for a mere insect?”

“Who knows? Maybe he was passed out drunk and got neatly swallowed whole. Hehehe!”

That was when it happened.

Beep!

Suddenly, something flew in from the hallway.

“Huh?!”

“What the?!”

Their eyes widened in shock as they focused on it, and they couldn’t help but gape.

Because it was a small bird, softly glowing in a pale purple hue.

“Th-that thing?!”

“No way!”

The bird flew toward them at a speed barely visible to the eye, abruptly changed direction, and headed toward the entrance before vanishing in an instant, as if it had evaporated.

The Madu, momentarily stunned, stared in the direction the bird had flown and muttered.

“Did you see that? It wasn’t just me, right?”

“I saw it too. It looked like some kind of glowing bird?”

“I, I saw it too. Wow, was it some kind of spirit creature?”

“First a black tiger as big as a tiger appeared, and now a glowing bird? What on earth does this portend?”

It was while they were chattering like that.

Suddenly, another sound reached their ears.

“Grrrrrrr.”

“Huh?!”

It came from the passageway again.

Startled, they whipped their heads back toward the passageway. Then, two enormous green eyes came into view.

“That bastard?!”

“Isn’t that the same one from earlier?!”

It was that enormous black panther from earlier.

A black panther as big as a tiger, its eyes glowing, was ambling closer.

The Madu warriors tensed up and shouted.

“What the hell?! Where’d the others go?!”

“Let’s catch it first! Two of you go get it!”

At that command, two of the remaining four immediately lunged toward the black panther.

“I’ll go!”

“Me too!”

Thud!

But only one warrior charged toward the Black Mark.

Swoosh! Thud! Swoosh!

“Gah!”

“Guh!”

“Huh!”

This was because three figures had suddenly risen like ghosts from the shadows behind them, each swiftly dispatching one of the demons.

While the small release of the Vermilion Bird Manifestation drew their attention, Sunwoojin, Seolpung, and Biseoyeong had already moved behind them, concealed.

The demon soldier charging forward sensed something amiss and abruptly turned to look behind him.

“Huh?!”

In the blink of an eye, the sight of his comrades turned into ghosts filled his eyes.

Startled, he tried to scream.

“There…! Ugh!”

But Jeongchil’s dagger and Yawunhyang’s whip struck first.

Swish!

Before he knew it, the whip wrapped around his mouth, while Zengchi’s dagger pierced the back of his neck.

Thud!

“!”

He couldn’t even utter a groan before meeting his end.

Having swiftly disposed of the four in an instant, Seonwoojin quietly pointed at them with his finger, then gestured back toward the passageway.

The others nodded in agreement and swiftly carried the body toward the cave to hide it.

Finally, having dealt with all the guards in the outer passage, it was time to move inward.

Seonwoojin suddenly looked at the entrance and recalled what Nojeok had said earlier.

‘So now it’s the Middle Hall, right?’

According to him, the Muwang Tomb was divided into three stages: the Outer Chamber, the Middle Chamber, and the Inner Chamber.

The passage filled with traps that Seonwoojin and his group had traversed so far was the Outer Hall, and entering through that entrance would lead to the Middle Hall.

However, the two individuals brought by the Black Blood Demon Duo were said to be in the inner chambers, deeper than even the middle chambers.

The mention of two individuals instead of three, and the name Black Blood Demon Duo, sent a chill through his heart. Yet, there was no choice.

They had to infiltrate the inner palace and rescue their comrades.

After briefly focusing his senses, Seon Woo-jin confirmed no one was nearby and opened his mouth, speaking in a low, audible voice.

“As you heard earlier, inside are about seventy peak masters, five supreme masters, and the Black Blood Demon King, the number one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars.”

This was the information he had heard from Luo Jieyu earlier, which Mu Lang had confirmed as true.

Though the entire party already knew this, when Sun Woo-jin voiced it again, their faces couldn’t help but darken.

The enemy’s forces were simply too overwhelming.

Adding five supreme masters and seventy peak-level experts to the thirty-six great masters of the world—it was hard to imagine any organization capable of deploying such a force in one place.

The Heavenly Demon Sect? The Martial Alliance? The Four Kings Alliance? Even the Nine Great Sects, aside from those three, probably couldn’t match this.

Then, as if trying to change the mood, Sun Woo-jin grinned and said to them.

“There’s no need to be so gloomy. We’re not going to fight them—we’re going to steal back our comrades. As the saying goes, ten hands can’t stop one thief, right? Besides, it’s a huge relief that Baekmyeonshima Guujeol, who was always stationed here, isn’t around now.”

That was certainly true.

Hearing Seon Woo-jin’s words, the group all gathered their resolve once more and nodded.

They knew that if everyone lost heart first, nothing could be accomplished.

Sunwoo Jin felt a quiet gratitude toward his companions, none of whom spoke of retreat even in this dire situation.

Even Jeong Chil, who usually grumbled constantly, now burned with determination in his sincere eyes when the crucial moment arrived.

Seon Woo-jin spoke to them again with a solemn gaze.

“Then we’ll proceed. I’ll say it again: our safety is paramount. If we find ourselves in an unavoidable situation, remember that each of you must retreat and prioritize survival above all else. After shaking off the enemies, our regrouping point is the collapsed passage where Dakam is waiting.”

At his words, everyone nodded.

Then Seon Woo-jin finally declared.

“Then we’re moving in.”

With that, Seon Woo-jin led the way through the entrance into the central hall.

He was still accompanied by Heukpyo, who remained glued to his side.

Then, suddenly, Mokrang spoke up.

– Huh! This place is completely different from the outside. It’s a very well-made structure, isn’t it?

At those words, Seon Woo-jin also glanced back at the walls and passageway.

Sure enough, even he, a complete layman, could see the stone walls were meticulously crafted.

Even the ceiling had night pearls embedded in a regular pattern, and torches hung intermittently along the walls, making the lighting exceptionally bright.

At first glance, it seemed like an even more well-crafted structure than the Gwanggeomneung tomb he had seen before.

Mukrang continued, his voice filled with admiration.

– Balance, harmony, durability. All perfect. No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like a place built by those Blood Cult bastards. I suspect they added the exterior separately to an existing structure?

‘That could be possible.’

Sunwoo Jin gave a vague reply, now focused on scanning the surroundings for signs of life.

He didn’t know if Mook-rang’s words were true, but he didn’t think it was a crucial fact for them right now.

But Mokrang, knowing Sunwoojin’s feelings, kept muttering to himself as if talking alone.

– It’s an original structure… The architectural style feels strangely familiar. And the name is Muheung Tomb, right? Hmm…

Seonwoo Jin let Mookrang’s mutterings go in one ear and out the other, continuing to move according to the map he had drawn in his mind.

‘Go straight at the first four-way intersection, then take the left path at the next intersection.’

He had extracted quite detailed information about the internal structure from No Je-eok earlier.

And he hadn’t just memorized it; he had mapped it out in his mind, even sketching the general layout.

His exceptional memory and spatial awareness made this feat possible.

Suddenly, Sunwoo Jin swiftly raised his palm to signal a stop.

Then he swiftly sent a telepathic message.

– Stop! Several Madu are moving ahead. We’ll wait until they pass.

About five or six Madu at the peak of their abilities were moving along a passageway roughly fifty meters away.

They had to wait briefly until they passed.

Of course, with that many opponents, they could easily win in a direct confrontation.

But that was absolutely forbidden.

If any commotion were to occur and other Madu were to gather, this infiltration could be considered a failure.

‘They’re not coming this way. They’re heading the other direction.’

Seon Woo-jin was currently maintaining the state of Hyunwol, the Moonlit Sword Dance, to amplify his senses.

This was possible because, since the last battle with the Dark Cave Clan, he had become able to use the Hyunwol state without difficulty.

A moment later, sensing they had moved away in the other direction, Seon Woo-jin sent another telepathic message.

– They’re gone. Advancing again.

And once more, he began advancing according to the map drawn in his mind.

‘Turn right at this four-way intersection, then again at the next three-way intersection…!’

That was the moment.

Seon Woo-jin sensed the Madu that had gone in a different direction moments ago were now turning back this way.

They didn’t seem to have detected their presence, but they were now following behind them.

He swiftly sent a telepathic message.

– The Madu from earlier are following us from the rear. I’ll increase our speed.

Following his command, everyone accelerated and, at the fork ahead—a straight path and a left turn—cut sharply left at a right angle.

Then a long, straight passageway appeared, seemingly about seven or eight zhang in length.

According to No Je-eok, once they passed through this straight passage, the path leading to the inner palace was within easy reach.

The group began advancing down the straight corridor, silently increasing their speed like ghosts.

But then it happened.

Seon Woo-jin urgently raised his palm, halting the group.

– Halt! Seven or eight horse-riding demons are approaching from the right side of the corner ahead!

It was a predicament.

The long straight corridor meant that even if they passed the four corners quickly, they would inevitably be spotted by the enemy.

So I had no choice but to retreat once more.

But from the rear right passageway where they had just come, the Madu from earlier were following them.

– Fall back! Retreat to the rear and take cover toward the left flank for now!

That direction was the one he hadn’t heard from No Je-eok about what lay ahead.

But there was nothing to be done for now.

It was just as the group was retreating so quickly.

Seon Woo-jin urgently sent another telepathic message.

– Halt! They’re coming from that direction too!

This time, Seon Woo-jin was truly flustered.

From the left, at a right angle, Madu were approaching the corner not far from there.

It was the worst.

At his words, the group, who had abruptly halted, couldn’t help but look flustered.

They too had realized that Madu were approaching from all three directions.

Seon Woo-jin gritted his teeth.

If things continued like this, they would inevitably be discovered, surrounded by enemies on all three sides.

But they couldn’t hide either.

Black Tiger was following alongside them, and the surroundings were too bright for concealment.

Jeong Chil urgently asked.

– Hey, what are we gonna do?! Fight?!

Though he was the only one who spoke, everyone was looking at Seonwoo Jin, waiting for his instructions.

A decision had to be made quickly.

Then, after briefly concentrating inward to sense the situation, Seonwoo Jin moved swiftly and sent a telepathic message.

– To the left first!

Seonwoo Jin decided that if they stayed put, Madu would appear from all three directions, so he chose to move toward one direction first and confront the Madu there.

The group moved swiftly, turning sharply left at the fork in the road.

Immediately after they changed direction, eight demonic beasts appeared from the corner of the straight passage behind them.

Had he remained standing there, he would have been caught red-handed.

But the danger remained.

Five more guards were about to turn toward us from the rear corner, and three more were on the verge of changing course toward us from the front.

– Quickly!

Seon Woo-jin swiftly advanced to the front corner.

Three Madu were just about to turn toward him from the left, at a right angle.

At that moment, Seonwoo Jin sent a telepathic message along with his desperate will to Heukpyo, who was moving right beside him.

– Go out first and draw some attention!

Without hesitation, Black Tiger shot out like a bullet.

Thud!

“Whoa?!”

“What, what is it?!”

“A leopard?!”

Black Tiger cleverly avoided colliding with the three Madu, leaping from wall to ceiling in succession. He cleared the Madu’s heads and landed behind them.

Startled, they had taken defensive stances, but their gaze instantly followed Black Tiger backward.

The group didn’t miss that moment.

Seon Woo-jin and his group silently covered the Madu’s backs like ghosts.

Shashashak!

Thud! Crack!

“Hmph!”

“Snap!”

“Gah!”

It took only a moment to cover their mouths from behind and snap their necks.

Seon Woo-jin and his group began moving forward quickly, carrying their bodies.

Swish!

They hadn’t been spotted by the other Madu yet, but they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.

Even though they’d minimized the sound of their attack, the other Madu could react to the voice that had just shouted “Leopard!”

Seonwoojin’s group advanced swiftly, turning sharply right at the corner before pausing briefly behind it.

Now was the time to observe the other Madu’s reactions.

Listening closely, the heightened hearing amplified by the Moonlit Sword Dance, Hyunwol, carried the distant voices of the demons.

“Hey! Where are you headed?”

“Ah, we’re heading to the training grounds. What about you?”

“Gonna eat. But hey, was that you guys yelling ‘leopard’ just now?”

“Huh? We thought it was you guys making that noise?”

“Hmm, that’s strange. Earlier, when we were on duty, we saw a large black panther prowling the outer corridors.”

“Really? That’s strange. But it couldn’t have made it inside here, could it? There are sentries on guard outside.”

“Well, that’s true, but… I still feel uneasy about it. Anyway, got it. Just in case, let’s swing by Jay’s workshop.”

“Alright. See you later then.”

Seon Woo-jin, who had been listening to their conversation, bit his lip.

‘Damn it!’

Because the Madu who had said they’d check the workshop area were now walking in this direction.

Seonwoo Jin turned his head to look down the rear passageway.

He knew nothing about this area from No Je-eok.

It was a completely unknown area to him.

‘J Workshop…’

But there was nothing he could do about it.

Seon Woo-jin made up his mind without further hesitation and sent a telepathic message to his comrades.

– The Madu are coming this way. Let’s fall back further to the rear.

Even in this unknown space, there was nothing they could do now.

To deal with them, they had to move to a more deserted area.

Seon Woo-jin and his group quickly retreated to the rear, carrying the three corpses.

If the passage split into several branches there, they planned to wait briefly and see if the Madu would go in another direction.

But the situation did not unfold as he had imagined.

This direction kept leading only to one-way passages no matter how many corners I turned.

‘Damn it.’

Seon Woo-jin’s heart grew increasingly impatient.

And a moment later, the passage finally ended.

At the end of the passage, a single entrance leading to some stone chamber stood alone.

This passageway had been a one-way corridor leading solely to a single large stone chamber.

The others looked at Seon Woo-jin with questioning eyes, wondering what to do next.

After briefly listening for any signs of life inside the chamber, Seon Woo-jin finally spoke.

– We’re going inside.

Seon Woo-jin looked inside with his spiritual vision; the stone chamber was incredibly spacious.

But at least, no signs of life could be sensed within.

That was why they had decided to go inside…

But the moment they stepped inside the stone chamber, they were so startled they froze in place.

“!”

Because there were countless people inside the stone chamber.

There were nearly a hundred people.