Book 12 Chapter 13

The End of Bisamagun

- Three Questions

The fierce battle had ended for now, but many things remained to be settled. Dealing with an old man buried deep in the ground was one of them.

Whether they were too disoriented or simply didn't notice, they had not taken the fallen strategist with them. Indeed, with his limbs buried in the earth and only his face peeking out, he was in a state of unconsciousness, making him unrecognizable. Even that small face was covered in some strange substance. Furthermore, the fallen trees had played their part in hiding him. Thus, the strategist was left abandoned in the heart of enemy territory.

In short, he had been abandoned.

"Hmm… where is this?"

Stirred by the murmuring commotion, the strategist finally opened his eyes. Slowly, his thin eyelids lifted. Along with the stinging sunlight, a human silhouette entered his field of vision. A face obscured by long bangs. Realizing that it was the very person who had brought him to this state, he was jolted awake as if struck by lightning.

He was propped up against a large tree, surrounded by dozens of gazes. Yeomdo, Binggeom, Jujakdan, Nayelin, and a few friends were the owners of those stares. Realizing he was in the worst possible situation, the snake-eyed strategist, in his haste, tried to move his body, but he couldn't even twitch a finger as if a lead weight had been placed on him.

"Ugh… ugh, ugh, eek…"

No matter how much he struggled, he had no strength in his body, like a waterlogged cotton ball.

"It's no use trying to move. I've suppressed all the pressure points on your body. You should only be able to move your mouth."

Bilyuryeon said in a formally polite voice.

"What are you going to do with me? Are you going to kill me?"

The strategist roared.

"We'll see about that. However, the sins you have committed are not so light as to be atoned for by death. You tried to carelessly destroy what is precious to me."

Bilyuryeon replied in a toneless, indifferent voice.

"Then kill me quickly!"

At that, Bilyuryeon grinned.

"Kill me, kill me, kill me. You are a person who only speaks terrifying words. But don't worry. You don't have to wish for death so eagerly; everyone has to pay the price for their sins. So, let's make a bet!"

"A bet?"

It was an incomprehensible statement for the captured strategist.

"Yes. If you win the bet, I will set your body free."

"Really?"

"I always take responsibility for my words. Don't worry."

[He, he can't.]

Yeomdo was about to protest that he absolutely could not, but Bilyuryeon raised his hand to stop him.

[But we have to interrogate him to find out who is behind this.]

[Can't we just pretend not to know? Besides, he doesn't look like someone who would talk even if interrogated. Even though he looks as sly as a snake, he might have that much courage.]

[You might be right, but…]

He continued to plead that they shouldn't decide on something like that so carelessly, but Bilyuryeon was insistent.

"So, what's the bet?"

"It's a very simple bet!"

Bilyuryeon pulled out a bamboo tube from his waist and fumbled for something inside.

"Gasp!"

Everyone around gasped in astonishment. Some women turned pale. In Bilyuryeon's hand were two Azure-Red Twin-Horned Snakes. Holding two snakes in his hands, he grinned and said,

"The rules of the bet are simple. When I place these two snakes in my hands on the ground, the winner will be decided by who the snakes go to."

"You… are you sane?"

"Of course!"

He nodded with a firm voice. However, it seemed Bilyuryeon was the only one who thought so. Everyone around him, including Yeomdo and Jujakdan, looked like they wanted to side with the strategist.

What kind of snakes were these Azure-Red Twin-Horned Snakes? They were snakes that had lived with Bisamagun's strategist for over a hundred years. Did it need further explanation? Bilyuryeon's intention in proposing such a bet, where the outcome was predetermined, was incomprehensible.

"However, since this bet is clearly in your favor, we have conditions too."

It seemed he knew it was in their favor, yet he still did this?

"What is it?"

The strategist asked, his vigilance unwavering.

"If I win, you will answer three questions from our side. How about it?"

The strategist remained silent with a serious expression for a moment before nodding. It was a very dangerous condition. However, he couldn't possibly lose such a bet.

"Fine. I swear on the honor of Bisashin-gun, the strategist! If I lose this bet, I will accept your condition."

"It's great that you're so straightforward! Alright, alright! That's how it should be."

Bilyuryeon clapped his hands, looking very pleased.

[Are you satisfied now?]

Yeomdo nodded with a look of resignation. But what was the point of such a condition? They needed at least a sliver of a chance to win. Yeomdo decided to give up comfortably.

"Shall we begin?"

"Anytime!"

The strategist replied, with 120% confidence in his victory. As Bilyuryeon raised both hands, his eyes met those of the Azure-Red Twin-Horned Snakes. These two small creatures looked at Bilyuryeon with wary eyes. Their gaze seemed to ask, 'What exactly is your plan?'

Having been burned once, they seemed to have given up on any thought of rebelling carelessly. Bilyuryeon's eyes, as he looked at the Azure-Red Twin-Horned Snakes, slowly began to turn the golden hue of dawn. Only these two small creatures could witness this almost mystical sight. Quietly, calmly, and with powerful words, Bilyuryeon slowly spoke,

"Now! It's time for you to choose one side. Decide where you want to go. I will let you go wherever you wish!"

For a moment, the Azure-Red Twin-Horned Snakes, looking at each other like humans, turned their heads towards their original master without hesitation. But Bilyuryeon's words were not yet finished. Their heads were again turned as if by force.

"Oh! If you wish to die with your master, that's fine too. Perhaps we'll erect a monument to loyal snakes, like the monument to loyal dogs. But don't forget. If you go over there, your future will only be snake soup! They say snakes are good for stamina, so there are quite a few guys who drool over them. It's good to become fertilizer for others' happiness even after death, but… what will you do?"

Did they understand human speech? They were indeed spiritual beings. The two snakes, released from Bilyuryeon's hands, began to waver between the two people. Their 고민 was evident.

"Now! Decide your fate with your own judgment!"

Bilyuryeon shouted. The words he uttered seemed to carry the power of spoken spells, exuding such authority that no one could dare to defy them. They stood at a crossroads of choice. The decision was soon made.

*Rustle!*

The two Azure-Red Twin-Horned Snakes, which had been crawling towards Bisamagun as if to go to him, suddenly changed direction.

"Th, this is impossible!"

The strategist's eyes, which had not doubted for a moment that they would wag their tails and come to him, widened as if to split. Before his very eyes, the two Azure-Red Twin-Horned Snakes, wagging their tails affectionately, headed towards Bilyuryeon.

Bilyuryeon burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! Life over loyalty! Self-interest over affection… Even the lives of small creatures are not so different from the lives of corrupt humans."

The strategist felt Bilyuryeon's gaze looking down at him from high above. This meant he had completely admitted his defeat to him. The Azure-Red Twin-Horned Snakes rubbed their horned foreheads against Bilyuryeon's shoes. They even seemed to be acting cute. That detestable sight robbed the strategist of even the hope of life. Bilyuryeon's gaze once again fell on the strategist, who looked as if he had aged fifty years in an instant.

"Oh dear, what are we going to do? As you can see, these guys came to me because they like me. The will of nature cannot be defied by an individual's will, can it?"

The Bisamagun's despair, sorrow, and hopelessness were beyond words. No, he was no longer in a position to even use the name Bisamagun out of shame.

"I, I… lost, I lost!"

A bright smile flickered across Bilyuryeon's lips as he looked at the Bisamagun. But it was a smile that pushed the strategist into the abyss.

"Hohohoho. Hohohohoho, hohohohoho…"

A weak voice, steeped in futility, leaked from between the old man's gaping teeth. From this day forward, the life of Bisamagun, the strategist, as a martial artist, came to an end. He would never rise again. The loss of his value as a martial artist! That was the punishment Bilyuryeon inflicted on the strategist, a punishment more severe than death.

Beside the old man, who was laughing foolishly, lay a halved Manxueoljang, scattered with the sandstorm.

"Eeeeeek!"

Yeomdo's face turned as red as coal in a brazier. Conversely, Binggeom's face next to him was cold and stiff. But Bilyuryeon watched them from the side, as if amused.

"You damn old geezer! I'll kill you!"

Curses spewed from Yeomdo's mouth, his face flushed red. This red-haired middle-aged man scowled savagely as if he had eaten a bug. His already rough appearance became even more demonic, more fearsome than a ghost.

"How can that be an answer to our question? Do you think that makes any sense? We're not playing around here."

Still unable to vent his anger, Yeomdo looked as if he would punch the helpless old man. Binggeom managed to pull him back. Although two questions had passed, there had been no results. Neither of them was in a good mood. As if he knew it, or perhaps knowing it and doing it deliberately, the old man said,

"Didn't I tell you to think carefully? I warned you beforehand…"

"Th, this is a fraud!"

Yeomdo exclaimed indignantly.

"A fraud?"

The old man's eyes, which had been listlessly drooping, suddenly flashed like lightning.

"I am answering according to my honor. I said I would tell the truth, and this is the truth. It is your part to find the answer within my answer. It is not my part."

"You sly old fox!"

Yeomdo's face turned red with anger.

'I've been completely fooled!'

This was the thought of both of them.

The first question was asked by Yeomdo.

"Where is the force behind you?"

The answer was simple.

"You ask the obvious. It is Cheongeo-ryeong! Now there are two left."

It was needless to say that Yeomdo went wild at such a hollow answer. He raged, threatening to rip the strategist's mouth open, but he was fortunately prevented from acting by Binggeom and Bilyuryeon.

The second question was asked by Binggeom. It was a question with more potential for useful information than Yeomdo's.

"Where is the base of your Cheongeo-ryeong?"

The second answer was equally hollow.

"The shadow of the mirror you believe in!"

And then he added, "Now there's one left!" It was natural for Yeomdo's suppressed anger to explode. When Yeomdo raged, asking how that could be an answer, the reply was 'it can be.'

"Why are you dragging your feet? There's only one left. Ask quickly!"

It was a remark that would surely irritate Yeomdo. However, given their previous two encounters, they could not ask recklessly. Yeomdo and Binggeom put their heads together to discuss. It was nothing short of a miracle for the two, who always snarled at each other as if they would devour each other, to put their heads together to reach one opinion. It was an event that would not be out of place even if the sun rose in the west tomorrow. Finally, after a long deliberation, Binggeom approached. It seemed they had finally decided on one last question.

Binggeom's mouth, which had been silently gazing at the strategist, finally opened.

"Then, our last question is…"

"Are we allowed to let him go?"

Yeomdo asked, looking at the strategist's back, which was receding further and further as if being sucked into the deep twilight. He was inwardly troubled by the thought of letting such a formidable figure go. Binggeom's opposition was even more vehement. But a promise is a promise! They had to keep it for the honor and pride of a martial artist.

"It's alright. He's no longer a martial artist anyway. The Bisamagun, who was a martial artist until just now, died here. What is walking there now is just a powerless old man. He won't be able to cause any more harm."

Yeomdo and Binggeom's gazes turned back to the strategist's shrinking shadow. Indeed, the old man's gait, as he stumbled away, was precarious, as if he might be blown away by a gust of wind. He was like a candle whose wick had burned out, with all his vitality extinguished. It seemed that even a small wind would soon extinguish that flame.

"We've received quite a few things, so we can't afford to not receive the last one," Bilyuryeon said, pulling something out of his pocket. It seemed to be one of the items he had discreetly, no, honorably, confiscated during the strategist's unconscious body examination earlier.

Bilyuryeon called for Tangsam. Tangsam immediately rushed over. Without a word, Bilyuryeon held up an object before him. It was a black flute. On the surface of the flute, the patterns of a snake and a centipede were finely engraved.

Tangsam's eyes widened. His breathing quickened, and his hands and feet trembled with excitement. Tangsam knew very well what it was. For someone who dealt with poison, for someone who pursued the ultimate in poison, it was an invaluable treasure. What treasure could be greater than a flute that allowed a poison handler to freely command venomous snakes and insects?

It was akin to a swordsman obtaining a legendary divine sword.

"Th, how can this be…"

Excitement spread through his veins. Now, no matter what he did, he couldn't control this excitement.

"…"

Bilyuryeon remained motionless, holding the Sachungjeok close to his face. Furthermore, his eyes were looking elsewhere. It was as if he was saying, 'You figure it out yourself.'

'Ah!'

Only then did Tangsam realize something. Through his long association with Bilyuryeon, his perception had already reached an exceptionally high level. He was no longer the oblivious Tangsam of the past. Perception was the most essential virtue required in his life with Bilyuryeon. Tangsam snatched the flute like an eagle grabbing a rabbit. And he shouted,

"Ten taels of gold!"

"…"

Bilyuryeon remained motionless. In fact, ten taels of gold for such a treasure was too cheap. Tangsam's conscience knew this well. However, the reason he called out ten taels was probably due to Bilyuryeon's influence.

"Twenty taels of gold."

Tangsam shouted again. The amount had already increased from ten taels of gold. It was an enormous sum. But would it move Bilyuryeon? Bilyuryeon's gaze, which had been looking elsewhere, turned to Tangsam. Tangsam flinched as he met his older brother's gaze. There was something he was guilty about.

"Shall I call Munhye? Or someone else?"

Meaning, there were other people here besides him. However, he couldn't possibly have twenty taels of gold. He was bluffing, relying on his family. Even if he used his family's money, the merit would go to him. Perhaps he could even get the right to use this flute. There was no greater fortune than that.

"Th, thirty taels. Older brother, please spare me. Even the Tang family's finances cannot afford more than this."

Of course, he could afford more if he reversed it. But that had nothing to do with bargaining. Finally, Bilyuryeon, with a reluctant expression, released the lower part of the flute he was holding. Tangsam's face, holding the Sachungjeok, was filled with elation and joy. He had obtained a treasure in an unexpected place and in an unexpected way today (to the point where he felt guilty for obtaining something so precious in such a manner). Tears welled up in his eyes with overwhelming emotion.

'With just this, I will not only be recognized by the elders of the sect, but even Munhye, who always claims to be my older sister, will have to call me older brother!'

Tangsam retreated with a step as if he were flying, and Bilyuryeon immediately called for Tang Munhye. This time, Bilyuryeon took out a book.

The Snake-Insect Musical Score (Sachoong-um-bo)! It was an indispensable item for playing the Sachungjeok and for skillfully handling it. In front of her, she quickly recognized its value. It was undoubtedly an authentic item! A swirling excitement engulfed her. She too was a direct descendant of the Tang family. She thought,

'With just this, I will not only be recognized by the elders of the sect, but even Tangsam, who always claims to be my older brother, will have to call me older sister!'

Tang Munhye snatched the book like an eagle catching prey. And she shouted,

"Ten taels of gold!"

"It's really over."

"That's right!"

Jang Hong sighed, and Mo Yong-hwi frowned. The smell of blood still lingered in various parts of the canyon. The delegation also suffered many casualties.

Hyoryong seemed to have barely survived, but he had not spoken a single word since regaining consciousness. His eyes, after regaining consciousness, were like those of a dead person, devoid of any life. Seeing Hyoryong like this, Lee Jin-seol burst into tears again.

In addition, more than a dozen people were injured by arrows, and some were poisoned by venomous snakes. If they hadn't gotten the antidote by pressing the strategist, their lives could have been in danger. Yeomdo's furious roar of 'You stupid fools!' was needless to say. However, it was a miracle that there were no fatalities after such a grand battle.

Everyone was mentally and physically exhausted from accumulated fatigue and tension. The strategist, who had lost the bet and was almost out of his mind, kept his promise. However, the three questions, which they had expected to provide clear answers, left them with even more questions. Since they hadn't expected sincere answers in the first place, it could be considered a significant gain.

Binggeom and Yeomdo, who had asked him the three questions, had been silent ever since. The atmosphere was so chilling that no one dared to approach them or speak to them.

Once again, fog rolled in, casting a white shroud over this ugly scene.

As people were moving and treating the injured and tidying up the area.

*Rustle!*

There was a sound of movement from beyond the fog.

"Who is it?"

*Clang!*

Goyakhan's dao sprang out of its sheath with dazzling speed.

*Kakang!*

Someone's sword blocked his dao.

"Haha, surely you wouldn't strike in earnest, would you?"

A cheerful voice came from the fog, and a silhouette appeared. As the person's identity was revealed, the tense people returned to their own tasks.

However, only Goyakhan was struggling with the irresistible temptation to 'just cut him down.' But his reason suppressed the urge.

"Where have you been? Don't you see this chaotic mess laid out here?"

Goyakhan roared in anger, his eyes blazing. This slippery fellow! A strong desire to smash that smug face with his fist surged within him.

"Haha, it was unintentional. Bodily needs can arise at any time, can't they? Besides, I wasn't just standing by."

"You can still laugh at this scene? Your nerves seem to be structured in a way I can't understand!"

Goyakhan, who disliked Lugihan's nonchalant demeanor even when witnessing such a tragedy, felt the urge to smash his face. At that moment, Goyakhan's eyes caught something.

"What is that in your left hand?"

"Ah, this."

He was carrying a person in his arm. It was a masked figure completely wrapped in black. There was no need to ask about his identity.

"Is he alive?"

Those unidentified figures had retreated cleanly, leaving behind even corpses. It was truly an ideal retreat for an assassin. Even that alone made it frighteningly easy to see how highly skilled they were.

Therefore, a prisoner would be extremely valuable. A key figure, from whom much more information could have been obtained, had already been let go due to a promise. Lugihan shook his head with a regretful expression and replied,

"He was until a moment ago."

Meaning, not now.

"Tch! That's just like you. What are you going to do with such a corpse? Don't you even know the elementary fact that the dead cannot speak? Are you trying to brag about doing something so futile?"

His words pierced like needles to the heart. However, Lugihan, who was responding, was also not an ordinary person in terms of his nerves. He calmly began to speak,

"It was quite difficult earlier. I went to take care of personal business, and suddenly arrows started flying from all directions. The situation was urgent, and I was very perplexed. I also suffered. I thought I would die without even finishing my business. Then I realized I had been separated from my companions and rushed to come this way. But arrows rained down from the sky, then chains fell and blocked my path, and later venomous snakes crawled around, making it impossible to come even if I wanted to. Then I managed to capture this guy. For some reason, he was loitering around. It took some effort to capture him."

As he said, his white robes were torn in many places and tattered. However, it seemed there were no wounds that reached the skin.

"You look quite intact for that. So? Did you relieve yourself properly?"

It was uncharacteristic of Goyakhan to use an indirect way of asking rather than directly asking, 'Did you poop well?' Upon closer inspection, Lugihan's clothes were only superficially torn, and there was no trace of blood. Goyakhan, who had hoped for a good mix of knife, arrow, and snake stabs, was very disappointed with the result.

"It would be much nicer to hear you say I have skill."

"If I had skill, my clothes wouldn't be torn to the point of tatters. Besides, I wouldn't have let the prisoner die so uselessly. I thought you had warned me in advance before they launched a surprise attack. It would have been very convenient for a coward like you!"

Lugihan's face stiffened at Goyakhan's harsh words.

"You speak too harshly. Speaking of which, I'm really eager to hear about the heroic deeds of the esteemed Elder Go. I'm already worried you might have been hiding behind the escorts."

"Wh, what!"

Sparks flew from Goyakhan's eyes.

"Stop it! Why do you two fight whenever you're together?"

Binggeom, who intervened, stopped the two, who were trying to tear each other apart like cats and dogs. Although his expression remained stiff, it was much better than the biting wind and snow of a moment ago.

These two could not defy Binggeom either.

"We have a long way to go! Let's hurry!"

Binggeom said again. Goyakhan and Lugihan exchanged glances for a moment.

"Hmph!"

The two turned away from each other's disgusting faces vehemently. Thus, the battle of Lightning Valley came to an end. However, for some, it left many questions unanswered.

Binggeom had a strong premonition that this battle was not the end, but the beginning.

"This is our last question. What is the purpose of you, the Cheon-geup-wu, this time?"

"A volcano where red flowers bloom!"

The strategist's last answer still echoed in his mind, refusing to leave.

That night was so cold that frost settled on the skin.

The stars, brushed by the cold wind, flickered, submerged in the black sea. It was a scene that could only be described as peaceful. On one side, a bonfire burned, sending off pollen-like flames. The bloody battle of the day felt like a dream.

However, the groans heard here and there were the only things that indicated it was reality. In the end, those who could not reach a nearby village had to camp out. The fortunate thing was that there were no critical patients…

However, given what happened during the day and their appearance, it was unbelievable that they had retreated without incident, so they could not let down their guard.

The uninjured male escorts went to a nearby stream to fetch water for treating the wounded. It didn't take long since they all excelled in Qinggong. They didn't have proper water containers made of wood and wire for traveling, but instead, they had specially made thin, large water bags, so there was no great difficulty in fetching water.

The problem was boiling the water. There was no cast-iron pot for such a journey. The solution was a rather crude method. As people pondered this problem of boiling water, Bilyuryeon walked to a rock without a word. It was a round rock, shaped like an overturned rice bowl, about waist-high and quite wide.

*Tok Tok!* Bilyuryeon tapped it with his finger to measure its hardness and nodded, seemingly satisfied. Bilyuryeon's actions were without hesitation.

*Flash!* A silver flash briefly illuminated. Since everyone was busy with various things, no one saw what had just happened. Except for one person, Nayelin.

What they saw was a large hemisphere of rock sliding down its cut surface with a 'srrrring' sound. Bilyuryeon took the top part and discarded the bottom. Regardless of what weapon or technique he used, the cut surface was as smooth as a mirror.

Binggeom, who approached, marveled at the clean workmanship. For the representative group gathered here, cutting such a rock was not a matter of pride at all. It was as simple as raising a hand or kicking with a foot. However, there were only a handful of people among them who possessed such clean and smooth skills. Moreover, what did he use without a sword or dao? The more he learned, the more mysterious a person he was.

Bilyuryeon said,

"Dig it out!"

Binggeom perfectly understood what Bilyuryeon wanted. With a light that shone like a star illuminating the darkness, Bingru was drawn out for a moment. His gaze was directed at the center of the mirror-smooth rock surface.

*Swoosh!*

Binggeom's sword moved in a clean arc like a shadow. It was a sword technique that seemed like a mirage, carving out the rock as if it were tofu. And then, a splendid stone pot was born from it. The thickness of the pot, carved out as if by magic, was very thin. This was proof of how astonishingly sharp Binggeom's sword energy was.

People marveled at Binggeom's skill (Bilyuryeon's skill did not receive attention at this time and thus could not be an object of admiration) and poured the fetched water into it, gathered firewood, and lit a fire.

The bonfire crackled like popping beans, illuminating the night darkness like small fireflies.

"How is Hyoryong?"

Yeomdo approached and asked Tangsam, who was busy tending to the patient.

"Yes, his life is not in danger. However…"

Tangsam, who had the best abilities as a physician, said. All martial artists had basic knowledge of first aid, but the children of the Tang family received more formal medical training. This was because poison and medicine were inseparable.

He was now impatient to study the interesting item he had received from his senior brother as soon as possible. However, treating the injured was the priority now.

"However, what?"

"It seems his spirit has been affected by the sword energy of the Seom-roe-mag-eom. He still doesn't have focus in his eyes. He looks like an idiot. Of course, it's a temporary phenomenon, but it will take time to recover."

"It's understandable. To be hit by such a master's sword energy at such close range…"

If the sword energy had been even slightly deeper, he could have become a complete imbecile.

"This young lady's nursing is extremely devoted."

Since that time, Lee Jin-seol had been nursing Hyoryong, forgetting to eat and sleep, and not leaving his side. It seemed nothing else registered in her eyes; she was solely fixated on Hyoryong. It was a scene that bordered on madness.

Dokgo-ryeong, feeling pity, advised her to rest, saying that she might ruin herself first, but she did not listen. She only devoted herself to attending to Hyoryong.

"Can one truly pour out one's heart to such an extent for one man?"

Lee Jin-seol's actions seemed to have a profound impact on Nayelin. Nayelin tried to put herself in Lee Jin-seol's shoes. She then shook her head.

Honestly, the scene before her was incomprehensible to her. However, a corner of her heart whispered that she understood it. She herself didn't know which was right. She was simply confused. Suddenly, Bilyuryeon's image flashed in her mind.

'Again!'

Why had he been coming to her mind so often lately? She herself didn't know the reason. It felt like his presence in her heart was growing larger and larger. However, the more it grew, the more the fear of the unknown, born on the opposite side of her heart, also intensified.

'No way…'

She quickly denied her thoughts, refusing to acknowledge them. That small emotion, grown from the depths of her soul, was too terrifying to accept readily. Her gaze unconsciously followed Bilyuryeon. He was talking to Yeomdo and Binggeom by the bonfire. The faces of the two middle-aged men listening seemed even more serious.

'Surely he wouldn't be injured like that…'

It was an unfounded belief, but such a thought suddenly came to her. However, later, Nayelin would have to realize that Bilyuryeon was not omnipotent or immortal. And she would pay a painful price for it.