Genius Martial Arts Trainer

The Divine Thief’s Hidden Cavern

Despite Mu-gyeong and Cheongsu Dojang showing excellent teamwork, progress was slower than when Mu-jin broke through due to the densely prepared traps.

Even though the two couldn’t match Mu-jin’s speed, nobody complained as safety was paramount.

They continued slowly but steadily.

Clang.

Rumble.

A foreboding sound was heard.

“Damn.”

A giant boulder, the size of the cave’s width, was seen rolling down the slope.

Mu-jin was out of internal energy, and in such a narrow space, the martial arts of Cheongsu Dojang and Mu-gyeong were not suitable for blocking such a massive boulder.

“I’ll handle this!”

Thus, Mu-gung stepped forward, shouting loudly to take the place of the two.

As he gathered his internal energy, his palm turned red, gradually expanding its range.

“Haaat!”

With a shout, as Mu-gung thrust his hand forward, the crimson Great Palm of Tathagata shot out, shattering the giant boulder into pieces.

Watching this, Mu-jin clapped his hands with a pleased smile.

“Oh. The effects of the miraculous elixir are certainly good.”

Not only had the size of the Great Palm increased compared to the Yongbongji Conference, but Mu-gung still appeared composed despite using a vast amount of internal energy.

Furthermore, even with Cheongsu Dojang, who had also taken the Taecheongdan, helping to clear the path, Mu-gyeong was not lagging behind.

Regardless of one’s understanding of techniques and martial arts, a lack of internal energy naturally limited the number of times martial arts could be used.

‘Thinking about it like this, this combination seems better than I thought.’

Mu-gyeong and Cheongsu Dojang, with their excellent skills in technique and defense.

Mu-gung, with his explosive firepower.

And Mu-yul and Ling-ling, serving as guides and cheerleaders.

“Oookii! Oookii!”

“Ling-ling says there’s a strange smell?”

After passing through the shattered boulder and navigating dozens of traps and several forks in the path, the cheerleader shouted excitedly.

But the content wasn’t exactly thrilling.

‘A strange smell?’

In a cave full of traps, if there was a strange smell that human noses couldn’t detect…

“It’s poison! Retreat and hold your breath!”

Mu-jin, using the energy he had recovered, unfolded the Golden Turtle Technique and shouted. With the energy veil enveloping the whole body, it was reasonably resistant to poison.

After confirming that the children had retreated a bit, Mu-jin urgently added,

“Which way is the smell coming from?”

Imitating Mu-yul, Ling-ling, who was covering his nose and mouth with both hands, extended his right hand to point to the left wall in front of the cave.

‘Not all poisons are like this, but most poisons are weak against fire.’

Having identified the location of the trap infused with poison, Mu-jin organized his thoughts and sent a transmission to Mu-gung.

– Prepare to use the martial arts you used earlier again.

After giving the instruction, Mu-jin, protected by the Golden Turtle Technique, carefully took steps forward.

Having trained diligently in active cultivation since his days as an entry disciple, Mu-jin had somewhat recovered his energy without needing to employ a Qi Conducting Technique.

And after taking a few steps,

Click.

With a small sound, a fine crack appeared on the wall Ling-ling had pointed to.

But being colorless, there wasn’t any visible change.

‘Something harmful is touching the energy veil.’

However, it was clear that something harmful was emanating, as perceived through the veil.

– Now!

Simultaneously with Mu-jin’s transmission, Mu-gung, whose palm was already red, thrust his hand forward.

Fwoosh!!

As the crimson Great Palm of Tathagata emanated from Mu-gung’s hand reached Mu-jin’s vicinity, it erupted into massive flames as if burning an invisible substance.

After the flames died down, Mu-jin, who had briefly retreated, approached the area again.

“It seems safe to proceed now.”

After confirming that nothing was touching the Golden Turtle Technique, he led the group forward.

Indeed, the combination of Cheongsu Dojang, Mu-gyeong, Mu-yul, and Mu-gung was highly effective in navigating this trap-filled cave.

“We should take a short break before moving on.”

“Amitabha. I feel my internal energy is nearly depleted as well.”

“I’ve also pushed my internal energy to the limit by using it twice in a row.”

Although the combination was efficient, there were still limits to their internal energy.

“It’s fine. I’ll take the lead and break through from now on.”

The all-purpose trap destroyer was ready to run.

* * *

Just as Mu-jin’s group began breaking through the traps.

In the outskirts of Chengdu, Sichuan Province. In a village located at the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

This place was inhabited by people with the same surname, and in the center stood a grand estate, known to the world as Tang Family Manor.

At the heart of Tang Family Manor, one of the Five Noble Families of the martial arts world, was the Sichuan Tang Clan.

And early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, there was a commotion in the Tang Clan’s estate.

“Clan leader!!”

“What is this commotion so early in the morning?”

“Zhang Bodo has appeared!”

“Zhang Bodo?”

Thinking for a moment, the Tang Clan leader, Tang Pae-jin, who had recently heard rumors in Sichuan, asked,

“Do you mean Zhang Bodo of Shintu Bidong?”

“Yes, indeed!”

Despite the urgent reply from the retainer, Tang Pae-jin remained indifferent.

“Why should our Sichuan Tang Clan be startled by the grave of a mere thief whose authenticity hasn’t even been verified?”

“Well, it seems the rumors might be true. There’s information that Emei and Qingcheng have already begun to move.”

“Emei and Qingcheng?”

“Yes, Master! We cannot let those hypocrites take it.”

At the retainer’s outcry, a vein bulged on the cool-headed Tang Pae-jin’s forehead.

If both Emei and Qingcheng were on the move, it changed the situation entirely.

If either of those factions obtained the immense treasure rumored to be there, the balance in Sichuan would be disrupted.

While it didn’t matter if they themselves did not acquire it, they certainly couldn’t let Emei or Qingcheng get their hands on those treasures.

However,

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

As the leader of the mighty Sichuan Tang Clan for over a decade, Tang Pae-jin sensed something unsettling about this situation.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something about it seemed orchestrated.

‘I should send the youths to monitor the situation rather than have them enter the cave directly.’

As Tang Pae-jin settled on a safer course of action and was about to give orders, the retainer added more information.

“Master! We’ve also received news that Miss Tang So-mi, who was in Gan-yang-hyeon, has already set out upon hearing the rumors! The rumors about Zhang Bodo also originated in Gan-yang-hyeon.”

“What!?”

For the first time, Tang Pae-jin’s face, which had been cold until now, showed a hint of shock.

Though the Sichuan Tang Clan was known for its cold and aloof demeanor, often attributed to their use of poisons or their reputation, there was one thing that always stirred strong emotions: family matters.

Perhaps, being treated as heretics by the orthodox sects made them even more tightly knit as a family.

But regardless of those circumstances,

“Send the youths immediately to bring So-mi back!”

What mattered now was rescuing his daughter, Tang So-mi.

Interestingly, similar situations were unfolding in both Emei and Qingcheng.

“Master! We’ve received word that the Sichuan Tang Clan is sending warriors to Shintu Bidong! We must act as well!”

Just as the Sichuan Tang Clan had noted Emei and Qingcheng’s movements, Emei and Qingcheng were similarly receiving reports of the Tang Clan’s actions.

* * *

While the Sichuan Tang Clan, Emei, and Qingcheng began to move in earnest,

At the entrance of the mountain where Shintu Bidong was said to lie in Ja-yang-shi,

Tang So-mi, disguised as a man, was climbing the mountain with four Tang Clan warriors.

Not only Tang So-mi, but the Tang Clan warriors with her, wore black martial attire instead of their usual Tang Clan garb.

Although Tang So-mi had moved before her father, Tang Pae-jin, had given any orders, she wasn’t recklessly coveting the treasure of Shintu Bidong.

‘I heard both Qingcheng and Emei have also moved.’

She glanced at the warrior who had given her this information. He was one of her guards who always accompanied her whenever she left the family estate.

His words prompted her to act first.

The plan was to establish a position near Shintu Bidong and observe the movements of other warriors, particularly those from Qingcheng and Emei, and report back once reinforcements arrived from the main family.

She had no intention of taking undue risks with such a small number.

At least, until they reached the location described in Zhang Bodo’s writings.

“It seems many warriors have already entered.”

Upon arriving at the location described in Zhang Bodo’s writings, they found countless traces at the entrance.

“…Let’s go inside and assess the situation. Avoid fights as much as possible and don’t push too deep.”

After making her decision, she cautiously entered Shintu Bidong with her guards.

Shortly after,

“…It seems a formidable expert has already gone in.”

Tang So-mi made a grim face at the sight inside Shintu Bidong.

The place wasn’t littered with countless bodies and blood.

Rather, the remains of countless traps were strewn about in a state of destruction.

Despite the numerous traps, there wasn’t a single body or drop of blood on the floor.

Perhaps, someone far more terrifying than the traps was waiting ahead.

“Let’s proceed further.”

Determined to assess the situation for her family, she steeled herself to push forward.

Not long after, a new problem arose for her.

“Which way should we go?”

Suddenly, three paths appeared before them.

As they paused, unable to decide,

They sensed someone approaching from behind.

Turning around, they saw a group of four cautiously approaching.

As both groups watched each other warily, Tang So-mi moved cautiously to the wall.

“We have no intention of fighting. Please, go ahead.”

As soon as she spoke, her guards also moved to the wall, mirroring her.

“Hmph.”

“Cowards.”

The four men, not recognizing the disguised Tang So-mi and her guards, sneered at them as they passed by.

The men chose the right path.

“Aaahhh!”

Shortly after, a scream echoed from the right path.

“It seems the right path is not the correct one.”

“Even the correct path may have traps, right?”

In response to Tang So-mi’s remark, one of her guards questioned.

“If those who left the traces we saw earlier entered, they probably destroyed all the traps along their way.”

“We don’t know who they are, but there’s no guarantee they know the correct path.”

“Our goal is not to find the treasure but to understand the situation. And in my view, the ones who destroyed all the traps are the ones we should keep an eye on. Let’s follow them first.”

Her explanation made the guards nod in agreement. Not long after, another group approached them from behind.

As before, Tang So-mi and her group stepped aside to let them pass, and the newcomers chose the left path.

When no sounds followed this time, Tang So-mi decided to follow them down the left path.

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