Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Lure into the Trap (5)

Jin Geonmu stepped into a small cave.

The cave was damp and dark. Moss clung stickily to the floor, and moisture seeped from the walls.

The sound of water droplets echoed from deep within.

A breeze slipped through the cracks, carrying a chill. At least the poison miasma and the hateful aura of the Poison Blood Forest did not reach this far. The air was clear and pure.

“Let’s rest here for the night.”

Jin Geonmu leaned against the wall as he spoke.

Yeon Sohye looked around the cave and said,

“This place is quite safe. The pursuit squad will have trouble finding it.”

“I stop by here from time to time.”

“Is there anything to eat? Now that we’ve relaxed, I’m starving.”

Jang Unhyeok plopped down heavily.

“There is. Sweet potatoes, radishes, carrots, burdock, lotus roots. Maybe a few apples too—if they haven’t gone bad yet.”

“There’s that kind of thing here?”

Jin Geonmu pointed at the ground beside Jang Unhyeok.

“I buried them around there. Go ahead and dig. Don’t tell me you expect me to do it for you?”

“Bu–buried them? Hah!”

Jang Unhyeok looked dumbfounded, glancing between Jin Geonmu and the ground.

He’d heard that the Ten Wolf Generals roamed like lonely beasts, but… he hadn’t known they lived .

With a sigh, he pulled out a dagger and began digging.

A numbing sensation spread through Gugwi’s entire body—especially around his neck and shoulders. The thorns of the Bloodfang Whip had left wounds that still pulsed with venom.

‘I need to… treat the injuries first.’

Gugwi muttered under his breath.

Just then, Namgung Hoyoung’s thought echoed clearly in his mind.

“Unfold the True Acupuncture Sutras. Stimulate the poisoned meridians and push the toxins out.”

It was strange. He hadn’t called for Namgung Hoyoung, yet he could hear his voice. It felt as if the man’s knowledge had been engraved into Gugwi’s mind—as if he’d always known it.

Curious, Gugwi focused his consciousness.

Unconsciously, his gaze followed his heartbeat. Following Namgung Hoyoung’s guidance, he began forming silver needles with the energy of the Spirit Flow Core. From his fingertips, one by one, fine, sharp needles appeared, shimmering faintly with a bluish hue.

“What are you doing?”

Yeon Sohye watched him with interest.

“I saw it in Namgung Hoyoung’s memories, so I’m trying to imitate it….”

Gugwi spoke with wonder in his voice.

They were not real needles but Spirit Needles. He had thought only spirits could create them—yet here they were, formed by human hands. These needles were invisible to ordinary eyes, though a Spirit Summoner could sense them like faint ripples of energy.

Gugwi located the acupoints on his neck and shoulders and inserted the needles—Injung, Hapgok, Zusamni, Gokji Acupoint….

A vibration spread through him as black smoke oozed out from the wounds left by the Bloodfang Whip’s thorns. His skin, once tainted green, slowly returned to its normal color.

The wounds closed visibly fast—the torn flesh mended, the swelling subsided.

“Amazing… your recovery speed is far quicker than before.”

Yeon Sohye said in awe.

Gugwi murmured in surprise.

As he created the Spirit Needles and inserted them by instinct, Namgung Hoyoung’s medical insights resurfaced vividly in his memory. It felt as though he himself had spent decades mastering the Medical Arts.

‘Why do I remember this? Could it be… that the spirits of the Spirit Union retain memories? No, ordinary memories shouldn’t remain—only skills do. Wait… I can test this.’

Driven by curiosity, Gugwi decided to experiment. He called out,

From the Realm of the Threshold, Un Serim appeared.

He didn’t form a direct link. Just like he’d done with Namgung Hoyoung, Gugwi infused Un Serim with energy from the Spirit Flow Core and allowed him to move freely.

Un Serim began practicing martial arts.

Before being a martial artist, Un Serim was the Lord of the Cloud Flow Sect, tasked with halting the Manifest Demon Emperor. But what Gugwi needed most right now was his martial prowess.

And so, Un Serim demonstrated it.

‘I can see it… the memories are inside me!’

In Gugwi’s mind, countless martial manuals unfolded.

The advanced forms of Celestial Cloud Spear, the intricate variations of Cloud Flow Step, the refined applications of Cloud Flow Spirit Heart—each appeared before him as if he were reading ancient scrolls, every character perfectly clear.

“This… these are real manuals.”

Gugwi exclaimed in shock.

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Suddenly, the bloody battlefield came to life—visions from four hundred years ago, scenes of slashing, thrusting, and death. The fierce techniques honed through real combat flashed vividly before his eyes.

Everything felt as if he himself had lived through it.

“So this is what it is.”

Gugwi realized something profound.

Through the evolution of the Spirit Flow Core, he could now fully share the spirits’ memories and experiences.

It went far beyond simple transmission of martial arts.

He could now make all the knowledge and experience those spirits had accumulated over their lifetimes his own.

“Can you… see the manuals too?”

Gugwi asked the others.

Yeon Sohye summoned So Ryeonghwa, just as Gugwi had done with the Spirit Union Martial Artists. She infused So Ryeonghwa with the energy of the Spirit Flow Core and released her.

But after a moment, she shook her head.

“No, I can’t. I can just use her martial arts as usual.”

Jang Unhyeok tried the same with the Blazing Fire Warrior and the Wind Sword Wolf, but the result was the same.

“Same here. I can use their techniques, but I can’t see the manuals. This must be a special ability tied to the Gatekeeper’s bloodline—or maybe your Spirit Flow Core evolved enough to enable complete communion with the spirits.”

Excitement surged through Gugwi. He could now freely wield all the spirits’ knowledge.

With this newfound power, Gugwi decided to heal his companions. Namgung Hoyoung’s voice continued to guide him.

“Yeon Sohye is in the worst shape. If you don’t treat her shoulder now, it’ll fester. Stimulate the Gyeonjeong Acupoint and Gyeollyo Acupoint.”

Gugwi approached Yeon Sohye.

“Let me check your shoulder.”

Yeon Sohye exposed her shoulder.

The wound grazed by the Poison Dart had yet to heal completely.

Gugwi formed Spirit Needles and inserted them into her shoulder acupoints.

Gugwi flicked the tip of the Spirit Needle with his finger. A sharp vibration spread out—Yeon Sohye’s pale face slowly regained its color.

Yeon Sohye spoke in amazement.

“My body feels so much lighter. Now you can even use Medical Arts… I wonder what the limits of the Spirit Flow Core are?”

“I don’t know either.”

Next was Jang Unhyeok’s turn. The Poison Dart of Sa Hyeollin was still embedded in his shoulder. Finally, Gugwi treated the Red Spearman’s leg. For the leg paralyzed by the Poison Mist Binding, he stimulated the Seungsan Acupoint and Yangneungcheon Acupoint.

The Red Spearman stood and tested his leg.

“It’s completely healed! This feeling… I think I’m even stronger than before.”

After finishing the treatments, Gugwi felt a new change within his body.

Something unexpected had happened during his battle against Sa Hyeollin’s poison.

The venom had seeped into the Spirit Flow Core and caused an unforeseen fusion. Normally, such poison would have tainted the core—but instead, it was absorbed and purified by it.

As a result, Gugwi’s meridians developed resistance to poison.

He could now absorb toxic energy and convert it into strength. When he focused his mind on his palm, black venomous energy gathered there—but it was no longer harmful. Rather, it merged with a blue hue, turning into a potent force.

“This power… Sa Hyeollin’s poison made me stronger… but nothing in this world comes for free.”

The price for this new strength was the irregular pulse of the Spirit Flow Core.

Just like an erratic heartbeat, sharp pain coursed through his chest.

Thump-thump… thump… thump-thump-thump…!

The irregular rhythm pounded within him. It seemed he would have to endure this pain for a while.

Jin Geonmu lit a fire inside the cave. As the warmth spread, their cold bodies began to relax.

Yeon Sohye suddenly spoke, as if recalling something.

“Gugwi, I saw what you did today. It feels like just yesterday you learned the Soul-Summoning Arts….”

Her gaze turned serious.

“You expanded the Spiritless Zone and purified the Stray Spirits. That light… it was incredible. Beautiful, even.”

Yeon Sohye paused, staring into the flames.

“This isn’t just from me, but from all of us. You should be our leader. Every group needs a head. I, the Head of the Intelligence Division, and the Red Spearman—we all agreed.”

Gugwi had grown. He was no longer the novice from their first meeting. He was now a true Soul-Summoner.

Gugwi smiled faintly.

“Being the leader—does that come with any perks? Why bother?”

“Gugwi, before I met you, there was only despair. You know that, right? But now, I truly believe I can save my son. That’s why I’m giving everything to this. The Captain of the Dark Blood Unit just said it—we all agreed. Be our leader.”

Jang Unhyeok’s tone was firm, carrying a silent determination that he would not back down.

“So, what do I gain from being leader, anyway….”

While polishing his spear, Jin Geonmu patted Gugwi’s shoulder.

“I have only one wish.”

His voice was low and heavy.

“To send my wife Eunhwa’s soul to the heavens. Once I achieve that, my resentment will be gone. Killing that Taoist of Wudang is my burden. But looking at you, Lord, such things seem like nothing. There’s finally someone capable of it. Truly fortunate. Please, be our leader!”

He remembered his late wife—an innocent woman who was executed simply for being a Spirit Summoner.

“Well, this is awkward.”

“Do it. Every group needs a leader. And besides, we already follow your lead anyway. When you say go this way, we go this way. When you say go that way, we follow. We’re just saying—whatever you plan next, do it freely. Use us however you need.”

“I appreciate that, but still….”

The Red Spearman struck Gugwi’s shoulder again, this time harder, with emotion behind it.

Gugwi staggered slightly.

Holding his sore shoulder, Gugwi looked at Jin Geonmu.

The man raised his hand again—it seemed he wouldn’t stop until Gugwi agreed.

“Fine, fine! I’ll do it! I will! Ha… seriously….”

Yeon Sohye laughed cheerfully, finding the scene amusing.

But their peaceful moment didn’t last long.

A detachment led by Ma Ungyeol, who had been investigating the remnants of the Poison Blood Forest, gradually closed in on their trail.

The sound of hooves echoed from afar—faint at first, then growing closer.

The group heard it while roasting sweet potatoes.

“The pursuit unit again. These bastards really don’t let us rest.”

Jin Geonmu sensed their approach.

“It smells like Ma Ungyeol. This time they’re serious. The encirclement seems wide.”

Yeon Sohye perked her ears and spoke.

The Red Spearman immediately gripped his spear.

“Lord, if Ma Ungyeol broke your Spiritless Zone, have you prepared a countermeasure?”

Gugwi shook his head.

“I haven’t had time to think it through properly… honestly, I don’t even know where it went wrong.”

He muttered in deep thought.

“Then facing Ma Ungyeol head-on will put us at a disadvantage. Let’s move to the altar of the Dark Spirit Sect. We were heading there anyway.”

He pointed to the map.

A faint smile crossed Gugwi’s lips.

“In the end, as long as we’re within the Heavenly Sound Cult’s territory, we’ll always be hunted. We’re in someone else’s home. Still… I’d rather fight while heading toward our goal.”

“Please give the order, my Lord. We await your command.”

“This isn’t an army, so there’s no need for orders… I said we’d take things slowly, didn’t I? You’ll get used to it eventually. Right?”

Yeon Sohye quickly packed up their supplies.

“Let’s conceal ourselves with the Silver Spirit Illusion. My mist can cover our tracks for a while.”

Jang Unhyeok studied the map once more.

“The altar’s a day away. There are several routes through the mountains to shake off pursuit. Let’s go. We might make it without fighting. Ah! I should be more formal now—you’re the leader, after all.”

“So that’s why you wanted me to be leader—to have something to tease me with.”

Gugwi stood up as he spoke.