Chapter 112 - Can You Swim?

Bi Sain was furious. I could tell where that anger came from. It was probably what Sixth Wolf had said earlier.

A life spent flocking around to protect a single First Young Master.

Naturally, it would have offended him and left him feeling belittled.

If the problem had been Sixth Wolf alone, killing him might actually have allowed Bi Sain to forget the matter.

But this was the real problem: the suspicion that the other Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path might feel the same way. That suspicion would torment him for a very long time.

Of course, I had no intention of soothing his feelings. Fundamentally, he was my enemy, and I intended to exploit both the division among them and his troubled state of mind.

Then First Wolf spoke up.

“Shouldn't we have kept Sixth Wolf alive to serve as a witness?”

His voice was slightly agitated. Faced with a comrade's betrayal and death, he too was inevitably shaken and upset.

Bi Sain said nothing. I could guess how First Wolf's words must have sounded to him now.

'He was like a brother to me. How could you simply kill him like that?'

Bi Sain's gaze turned to the other Thirteen Wolves standing behind First Wolf. Their expressions were no different from usual.

And yet, at this moment, they would feel like strangers to him.

That was when I stepped in.

“Aren't you witnesses yourselves? Even excluding Young Master Bi, who is directly involved, aren't there six witnesses who saw Sixth Wolf's betrayal?”

This was what concerned First Wolf.

“If they paint us all as accomplices, they may refuse to believe us.”

“Are you saying the testimony of six of the Thirteen Wolves, who represent the Unorthodox Alliance, would carry no weight? If so, what meaning is there in your lives as martial artists of the Alliance?”

Neither First Wolf nor the others said anything. Thinking about it would make them feel truly wretched.

Then Bi Sain, who had been listening silently, shouted,

“Enough of this pointless talk!”

It was only natural that he should react irritably.

“Who is behind this?”

“I can't tell you here.”

I poured oil on the fire.

“Are you sure there is only one traitor?”

The Thirteen Wolves all turned cold gazes on me.

In truth, Bi Sain should have been the first to react that way. Instead, he was the last. He shared the same suspicion.

“Wouldn't it be wiser to exercise caution until we know for certain? Let's discuss this between the two of us.”

I was driving a wedge between Bi Sain and the Thirteen Wolves while pressing him hard. This was a matter in which I needed to seize him by the collar and drag him along. I had no intention of surrendering the initiative until the final score was counted.

Before meeting Bi Sain alone, I briefly exchanged sound transmissions with the Wicked Laughing Demon.

“I intend to separate Bi Sain from the Thirteen Wolves for a while.”

“You must have something in mind.”

“I need some time alone with him if I'm to make him act as I wish.”

In truth, there was another reason, but it was one I couldn't tell the Wicked Laughing Demon.

Perceptive as he was, he suddenly asked,

“Is that really your only reason?”

“No.”

At my honest answer, the Wicked Laughing Demon instead smiled with his eyes.

“As I thought, Second Young Master, you wear the same kind of mask as I do.”

“That's right. No one believed me when I said I wasn't such a good person, but you understand me, Laughing Demon. Then I'll see you later at the safe house near the Unorthodox Alliance headquarters.”

Given the nature of the matter, he accepted my request. When it came to official business, at least, no one handled things more cleanly than he did.

* * *

Bi Sain and I stood side by side on a hill east of White Night Valley.

“Who is behind this?”

“What will you do for me if I tell you? Surely you didn't expect to receive information this important for free?”

His expression stiffened slightly.

“Damn it! Why is hearing a single name so difficult? Be a man and tell me!”

“That's not being a man. That's being a fool who accepts a loss for a moment's satisfaction. I believe a transaction must involve a fair exchange of value. Problems always arise when one party is dissatisfied. Let's make sure the scales are balanced.”

“What do you want?”

There was something I wanted from him. After returning to the past, I had decided to claim certain fortuitous opportunities if I had the chance. What I was about to ask for was one of them.

“Let me enter the Cave of Myriad Evils.”

The Cave of Myriad Evils.

It was a sacred site of the Unorthodox Alliance, accessible only to its leader and successor.

Three hundred years ago, the Sovereign of Myriad Evils, the Alliance's supreme ruler, had treated his injuries there after a fierce battle with the Heavenly Demon of that era. The Alliance had made it a sacred site.

Bi Sain was startled.

“Why do you want to go in there?”

“I've wanted to for a long time.”

“Then you must know that outsiders are strictly forbidden to enter.”

“That's why I'm asking you now, isn't it? With your life at stake.”

“Don't exaggerate. I've remained alive until now without knowing who was behind this. So stop acting as though you have something extraordinary.”

“You were alive, but in very real danger. With a traitor at your back, no less. If you hadn't met me, that traitor would still be eating and sleeping alongside you, Young Master Bi.”

Perhaps unable to refute that particular point, Bi Sain fell silent for a moment before asking,

“Do you know what kind of place the Cave of Myriad Evils is?”

He asked because there was nothing particularly special there.

It was simply a place commemorating where the Sovereign of Myriad Evils had healed his injuries, little different from a pavilion built at a scenic spot.

“I heard that the Heavenly Demon and the Sovereign of Myriad Evils fought three hundred years ago, and that a detailed record of their battle is kept there. As the man who will become the next Heavenly Demon, I want to read that account closely. Unfortunately, the Cult has no surviving record of it.”

This was Bi Sain's concern.

“Letting you in isn't a major problem. But if it comes to light, it could become one.”

“You needn't worry about that. I'll never reveal that I entered the Cave of Myriad Evils. And suppose I did reveal it. Couldn't you simply deny it outright? If you say it isn't true, who would believe me?”

He would accept in the end. Compared to what he stood to gain, access to the cave was nothing. Though designated a sacred site, it was merely a kind of memorial hall.

The cave's secret had been discovered some ten years from now, after the Bi Sain standing before me was already dead.

“If you don't want to, forget it. I don't want to enter badly enough to keep pleading like this. Let's pretend this never happened.”

“Second Young Master, don't be petty.”

“You're the one being petty with your own life, Young Master Bi.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that whatever anyone else might do, you of all people shouldn't hesitate. Nothing in this world matters more than life. Especially a precious life that will ascend to lead the Unorthodox Alliance once this crisis is past. Forget everything else and think of just one thing: your life!”

In the end, Bi Sain exhaled deeply and accepted my proposal.

“Very well. I'll let you enter the Cave of Myriad Evils.”

He was in a situation where, if he could discover the mastermind's identity, he needed to do so at any cost.

“But I have two conditions.”

“Name them.”

“First, you must reveal the mastermind beforehand.”

I had expected that demand.

“I'll tell you at the cave entrance.”

“Agreed.”

For the first condition, we readily accepted each other's terms.

“Second, you may stay for only one two-hour watch.”

“That's too short. Give me three watches.”

“Two. No more.”

“Agreed.”

Bi Sain drew his sword. I drew the Black Demon Sword as well, and we struck our blades together. A clear ring sounded as the seal of our promise.

CLANG!

“Does the Cave of Myriad Evils happen to lie on the way back to the Alliance headquarters from here?”

“It does.”

“Then let's leave right now, just the two of us.”

The unexpected suggestion startled him.

“You mean to leave the Thirteen Wolves behind?”

“Yes. Let's leave both the Thirteen Wolves and the Wicked Laughing Demon behind.”

Bi Sain started to say something, then stopped. He couldn't bring himself to ask whether it would be dangerous.

Watching me move about alone all this time had wounded his pride. He could hardly ask now whether it was dangerous, like a coward.

“For now, going as a pair will be safest.”

“Why?”

“You and the Thirteen Wolves are such accomplished martial artists that keeping you under surveillance isn't easy. That's probably why they recruited Sixth Wolf.”

Bi Sain nodded in agreement.

“Now that Sixth Wolf is dead, there's a gap in their surveillance. But they'll soon learn of his death and send another master to watch you. If we're going to leave, now is the time. Come with me to the Cave of Myriad Evils now. Let's leave the Wicked Laughing Demon and the Thirteen Wolves behind and go alone. Refusing to move as your opponent expects is how you defeat them.”

Even so, Bi Sain couldn't readily decide. At last, he revealed his honest feelings.

“But if we die, none of it will matter.”

His conflicted face looked even more distorted—a face that couldn't properly convey his feelings. Perhaps pity for that was one of the reasons I wanted to save him.

“There's no telling whether having the Thirteen Wolves with you increases your chances of living or dying. As I said earlier, can you be certain there isn't another spy among those who remain?”

Bi Sain couldn't answer confidently. There was no guarantee their enemies hadn't planted a second or even a third spy. Only First Wolf, Baek Cheolgi, could be trusted absolutely.

“Besides, don't we need to travel alone if you're going to let me into the cave? Are you comfortable with them knowing you let me in? Not only them, but the Wicked Laughing Demon too?”

That settled it.

“Very well. Let's go alone.”

“A wise decision.”

Resolve filled Bi Sain's face.

Ordinarily, he shouldn't have made a decision this way. He shouldn't let himself be guided so easily by someone else's intentions. If that person were evil, he would already be doomed.

But Bi Sain, this once, you did well.

Even I don't know how your fate will unfold, but joining hands with me will likely be your only way to turn the wheels of your tragic destiny in another direction. Pull harder on the reins to change their course.

“I'll help you become leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.”

“The world will laugh at me if I become its leader with your help.”

“The world will never know. Someday, when I am the Heavenly Demon and you lead the Unorthodox Alliance, let's shake hands when we meet and remember this time.”

Bi Sain stared intently at me. How could even I know another person's heart? Would he hate this moment so much that he tried to kill me, or would he truly be grateful for this day and take my hand?

“Let's go.”

I started running first, and he followed behind me.

In moments, we were out of White Night Valley.

* * *

Some ten days later, having traveled only along deserted paths, we finally reached the top of a cliff. Knowing that we had neither been watched nor followed on the way here, Bi Sain acknowledged that my judgment had been correct.

ROOOOOSH!

Looking down at the cascading waterfall, Bi Sain asked,

“Can you swim?”

“I could eat a meal underwater while fighting the Yangtze Water Devils.”

“Then follow me.”

Bi Sain leaped down below the waterfall first, and I jumped after him.

The entrance to the Cave of Myriad Evils was somewhere you could never find without knowing its location. We swam through a narrow opening beneath the waterfall.

Set amid powerful currents, it was barely visible to begin with, and so narrow that it looked as though anyone who entered would become wedged inside and never escape.

We passed through the opening and swam along a narrow passage. Only after going deep enough to feel the fear that we would drown if we continued any farther could we emerge from the water.

The waterway connected to a pool inside a cavern.

“They say the Sovereign of Myriad Evils was swept into this place after being wounded in his battle with the Heavenly Demon.”

“That narrow passage led here? Heaven saved him.”

“That's why we made this a sacred site.”

We stood side by side before the cave. Originally, it had continued straight inward, but its entrance had been sealed off with a door.

“This door can only be opened by channeling internal energy into it in a prescribed pattern. Try to force it open, and this place will collapse. Now, tell me. Who is behind this?”

I immediately revealed the mastermind's identity.

“Seok Gwanchu, Grand Elder of the Unorthodox Alliance.”

Bi Sain was astonished. It must have been a name he hadn't considered at all.

“That can't be. Elder Seok stepped down long ago and joined the Council of Elders. Do you have proof it's him?”

“Black Kill's leader confessed.”

“Where is he now?”

“Dead.”

Bi Sain's expression hardened.

“Are you claiming Elder Seok is behind this without any evidence?”

“What do you mean, no evidence? I, the Heavenly Demon's second son, am giving you my testimony.”

“!”

“If you don't trust me, you shouldn't be standing here in the first place. What exactly are you doing?”

At my rebuke, Bi Sain let out a deep sigh and said,

“No. I trust you. I came because I trust you. I simply find it hard to believe it's Elder Seok.”

That was how universally respected Seok Gwanchu was among the Alliance's martial artists.

“Elder Seok wants to make his grandson the successor.”

Only then did Bi Sain understand the situation.

“Ah! So that was why. Elder Seok was immensely proud of his grandson. He boasted about him to me several times. Back then... I thought he was overly fond of the boy, but looking back, it seems that wasn't all there was to it.”

Cold killing intent flashed in Bi Sain's eyes. The many words and incidents involving Seok Gwanchu and his grandson that he had previously dismissed would now take on new meaning, freezing his heart.

“Now it's your turn to keep your promise.”

Bi Sain kept his word like a man. When he placed his palm against the wall and channeled internal energy into it, the door opened.

“You must keep your entry here secret until the day you die. And you have exactly two watches. If you aren't out by then, I'll come in.”

Leaving him behind, I slowly walked into the Cave of Myriad Evils.