The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

The designer of the Five Elements Tomb must have wanted those who entered to starve.

The thousands of Hungry Ghost Parasites see the world through scent. They never miss the smell of dead meat and the aroma of blood.

To avoid becoming their target, it was crucial to abandon any food and run quickly.

Killing a Hungry Ghost Parasite carelessly would attract its kin with the rotten smell from its bodily fluids.

Catching them in droves and getting a scratch that bled could lead to greater trouble. The Hungry Ghost Parasites preferred the scent of blood over the smell of dried meat.

Yi-gang’s group excellently preserved their rations, but not everyone could do the same.

In fact, groups like Namgung Shin’s, who quickly abandoned their rations, could be said to have made swift judgments.

They ran as if their tails were on fire and entered the room marked with the “Earth” character. It was the passage that Namgung Shin first entered.

However, not everyone was satisfied.

Was it Yang Gu-jeon of the Jinling Blade Sect? A successor from a small rural sect strode forward.

The large man’s face turned red with anger, giving off a considerable intimidating presence.

Namgung Shin, who was wiping the blood of the Hungry Ghost Parasites off his sword, raised his head.

“Why did you do that!”

“What are you talking about?”

Unlike the furious Yang Gu-jeon, Namgung Shin’s expression was utterly dry.

This further agitated Yang Gu-jeon.

“Why didn’t you tell us!”

“Tell you?”

“That the worms were after our food!”

“I didn’t know either. I figured it out along the way.”

“You could have at least given us a hint when you found out!”

Namgung Shin didn’t hesitate to discard all his food. Not just the strongly scented dried meat, but even the steamed rice.

Then he walked alone, passing by the Hungry Ghost Parasites.

Yang Gu-jeon was trembling with clenched fists.

His face was splattered with blood.

But it wasn’t his own blood.

“If only you had said a word, that guy wouldn’t have died!”

The first casualty had occurred.

Unluckily, it was someone whose ankle got torn by the forelimb of a Hungry Ghost Parasite. Drenched in the fluids of the worm he had slashed, he was quickly swarmed by the worms.

Yang Gu-jeon happened to be right beside him.

The image of the flailing arms and the heat of the blood that splattered were etched in his brain.

It was a horrific death, unimaginable even for a martial artist accustomed to death.

“If only you had told us a little earlier!”

“I did say before entering the Five Elements Tomb…” Namgung Shin spoke with a cold voice, hard to believe coming from a benign face, “I am not here to lead you. You must take care of your own lives.”

“Ugh…”

“Don’t ask me to take responsibility and fend for yourselves. Besides, weren’t you the one who could have helped the one who died?”

“You cruel bastard!”

Unable to hold back, Yang Gu-jeon clenched his sword, and Namgung Shin’s eyes flashed sharply.

The reason no blood was shed was that Plum Blossom Radiance Hwa So-so had intervened.

“Let’s stop this.”

No one could ignore the presence of a Plum Blossom Swordsman holding a sword.

Divine Wind Sword Ok Ja-cheong cooled the heated atmosphere.

“It was because Young Master Namgung figured out how to discard our food that we were able to pass safely.”

“That’s right. Young Master Yang also escaped thanks to Young Master Namgung.”

Yang Gu-jeon closed his mouth.

Indeed, it was the replication of Namgung Shin’s method that resolved the situation.

It was just hard to accept emotionally.

Fuming yet, he returned to his place.

Namgung Shin, after completely wiping off the fluid from his sword, stood up.

Then he started to move forward into the deeper part of the passageway. The resting people got up in a hurry, confused.

Hwa So-so sighed and followed Namgung Shin.

“Young Master Yang’s words aren’t entirely wrong. It would be good to give a heads-up when we are together, especially when departing so suddenly like this.”

“I find myself repeating the same thing over and over.”

Namgung Shin turned his head to look at Hwa So-so.

“I wouldn’t mind entering alone. Following me is your choice, but no more than that…”

He didn’t change his attitude even towards the successor of the Mount Hua Sect.

Hwa So-so frowned but didn’t add more words and started walking.

Everyone was excited when they entered the Five Elements Tomb.

It seemed like the atmosphere would be good, with successors of the same age from orthodox sects gathered.

Even Hwa So-so had expectations about finding the legacy of the legendary martial artist, the Five Elements Divine Lord.

But reality was cruel like this.

The successors walked with gloomy faces.

Was this a blessing in disguise? Something that ignited their desires happened.

The narrow passageway suddenly widened.

“Th-that is…!” someone shouted.

It was a place where night luminous pearls were embedded in the ceiling.

To the front left, a stone pedestal was erected.

On it lay a bundle of aged-looking bamboo strips and a piece of gold. The gold, bathed in the light of the night luminous pearls, looked majestic.

As precious as the gold bar might be, the successors’ interest was not in the gold.

“Could it be, the martial arts of Five Elements Divine Lord…!” someone exclaimed.

What could be the identity of those unassuming bamboo strips?

The successors hurried towards the stone pedestal.

Yet, no one dared to step within a certain distance of it.

There was mutual wariness, but the inscription in front halted them.

They had read such an inscription before the Hungry Ghost Parasites appeared.

Those of lesser caliber should be content with the Earth Shattering Finger and return.

The Earth Shattering Finger—

Despite the Five Elements Divine Lord being a master who flourished long ago, everyone who entered the Five Elements Tomb was well aware of his records.

No one here was ignorant of his martial arts.

The Earth Shattering Finger was a finger technique. While there were many remarkable finger techniques in the world, this one was particularly unique.

The objects affected by the Five Elements Divine Lord’s fingers were destroyed in a very unique and cruel manner.

The successors were shocked by the traces left on the gold bar.

“It’s definitely Earth Shattering Finger…!”

The middle part of the gold bar was drilled exactly to the thickness of two fingers.

Piercing a gold bar with a strong impact was something a master of finger techniques could do.

But it’s impossible to leave such a smooth mark as if scooping out tofu. It’s not a mark made by force.

“Like turning gold into powder…”

Moreover, the gold dust remaining in the mark was clearly a trace of the Earth Shattering Finger.

The places struck by the Earth Shattering Finger were turned into sand-like powder. The same happened whether it’s gold or human flesh.

Greed flickered in the successors’ eyes.

Even Yang Gu-jeon, who had been in shock, was no different.

“Don’t touch it!” Hwa So-so shouted.

Everyone’s attention turned to her as she raised her finger to point in another direction.

There, a passage leading to another room was open.

“That inscription.”

The problem was that there was also an inscription written above it.

Those who wish to proceed, enter.

If you take the Earth Shattering Finger, you cannot enter. If you enter, you cannot take the Earth Shattering Finger.

It was a message that forced a choice between two options.

“It’s clear that a mechanism is set up,” Divine Wind Sword Ok Ja-cheong said.

Only then did the successors notice.

There were traces of a mechanism above the pedestal where the bamboo strips were placed. The passageway was the same.

“If you touch the bamboo strips, the passage to the inside closes, and if you go inside, you can’t take Earth Shattering Finger.”

The intention of the designer with a wicked sense of humor became apparent.

This place was not simply where a master, who lingered in the world, left his martial arts and departed.

It was clear there was an intention to test or torment those who would come later.

But the reason for this was still unknown.

Hwa So-so spoke up, “Surely, no one would give up everything for just one finger technique.”

Silence fell.

Every martial art of the Five Elements Divine Lord was coveted.

However, their ultimate goal was not the finger technique.

The incomprehensible achievement of mastering all the Five Elements Skills. The Five Elements Divine Art was the most important.

Naturally, proceeding further was the right choice.

“Although what Young Lady Plum Blossom Radiance said is right…”

The problem was that not everyone could make that choice.

For those not from major sects, even the Earth Shattering Finger alone was a peerless martial art.

Three successors from minor sects couldn’t leave the front of the pedestal.

“Earth Shattering Finger is undoubtedly a great martial art.”

“What are you thinking? Planning to take the finger technique?”

“Not saying I will do it right now…”

“Don’t touch it!”

Plum Blossom Radiance coldly placed her hand on her sword hilt.

The successor from Zhejiang quickly withdrew his hand.

“I wasn’t going to touch it.”

“I’ve warned you.”

“Are you threatening us now?”

The atmosphere grew tense.

Yang Gu-jeon, who was also standing in front of the pedestal, spoke cautiously, “There must be a way to take both. A method to enter the passage and take the bamboo strips.”

“We can’t take a gamble.”

“…You major sect successors may not understand. For us, just getting the Earth Shattering Finger is enough.”

Hwa So-so frowned.

She seemed ready to draw her sword at any moment.

“First, if we think of a way somehow…”

The martial artists sharpened their senses.

Hwa So-so and Ok Ja-cheong were not tempted by the Earth Shattering Finger, but they too were tense, alternating their gaze between the bamboo strips and the successors.

As the designer intended, the successors were lost in their desires.

Only one person was free from such conflict.

Thud

Namgung Shin entered the passageway without even glancing at the Earth Shattering Finger.

Everyone’s attention naturally shifted to him.

Clunk

The sound of a mechanism turning was heard.

“No!”

Yang Gu-jeon screamed as he reached for the bamboo strips. At the same moment, an iron wall descended from the ceiling.

Kuaang!

It was the moment the method to obtain the Earth Shattering Finger vanished.

The peerless finger technique disappeared before their eyes. All that remained was a thick iron wall, difficult to penetrate even with Sword Aura.

Yang Gu-jeon punched the iron wall in anger.

“Namgung Shin, you again this time!”

He chased after Namgung Shin, who was entering the passage.

Just as the furious man tried to grab Namgung Shin’s nape.

Swoosh—

A flash of the sword came and blood splattered.

“Ah!”

Yang Gu-jeon’s arm was deeply cut.

It wasn’t severed, so instinctively, as he tried to draw his sword—a cold blade touched his neck.

“If you draw your sword, this time you will die.”

“Uh…”

Yang Gu-jeon tightly closed his mouth.

The finely sharpened blade had lightly cut into his neck, causing blood to flow.

It wasn’t the flash of blue in Namgung Shin’s eyes as he looked down at him.

It was because there was a certainty that even a slight movement would truly cost his life.

Namgung Shin, after staring at the frozen Yang Gu-jeon, started walking again.

“Let’s go in,” Hwa So-so said as she passed by Yang Gu-jeon.

Along with a sense of satisfaction, she also felt discontent towards Namgung Shin.

“Cough, cough.”

Namgung Shin, walking ahead, somehow burst into a violent cough.

Ok Ja-cheong chimed in beside Hwa So-so.

“He’s a person with a strong will. Young Master Namgung.”

“Indeed.”

“I wonder if the successors who entered other passages found the Five Elements Divine Lord’s martial arts?”

That was their concern.

There were five passages in total. In the Earth passage, the Earth Shattering Finger was discovered.

So, what could be in the other rooms?

The opportunity to solve that mystery came sooner than expected.

It might have been about an hour, alternating between rest and advancing.

“Wait.”

Hwa So-so, acting as the leader of the exploration team instead of Namgung Shin, raised her hand.

The group halted in unison.

Even Namgung Shin, who had been walking quietly, obediently stopped.

“There’s a presence.”

Except for Namgung Shin, Hwa So-so, and Ok Ja-cheong, the others wore puzzled expressions.

But as they walked a bit further without making noise, they heard voices.

“…Remarkable…”

“…Wait here…”

It was unmistakably the voice of a person.

Their group was the first and last to enter this passage.

Could it be that the paths had converged?

“…Senior Yi-gang…”

It was clearly Yu Su-rin’s voice.

Hwa So-so wondered whether to make her presence known or to approach more quietly.

Her expression changed due to a sentence from Yu Su-rin that followed.

“…We are very lucky.”

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