Chapter 87 – Flute Of Foreboding (7)

Seol Young could see that Seo Geom was interested in what he was saying.

So he uttered it again.

“It’s not that I am taking the sword out of the Sword Tomb, I don’t even have to take it off its stand.”

“Then?”

“I just have to touch it once. In addition, aren’t the swords being cleaned regularly? It’s not much different from that. Even if I perform a spell, there won’t be any problems.”

“…”

Seo Geom looked at him without a word. Seol Young was really talking a lot. He didn’t have the usual blank face that he had. There was a glint in his eyes as if he wanted to know the truth.

‘Is he really sure of this?’

The Sword Tomb was like a shrine. But it wasn’t a place that Seol Young couldn’t enter. He was also a Hwarang.

And he said he wouldn’t take it off the stand. Wouldn’t it be fine to try it out? Just like what he said, unless there was a problem with the spell…

‘But can this man’s words be trusted?’

What happened seven years ago was still clear in his heart.

But he had the desire to clear the doubt. Was there no other way?

“I get it.”

Seo Geom finally nodded. He turned and headed deeper into the chamber. After walking for a while, a shrine came into view.

There were trees that twisted and coiled like the body of a dragon, guarding the surrounding area. The ancient pillars were dyed red under the setting sun.

In the most solemn place in the shrine, there stood a square door made of stone. It was the Sword Tomb that enshrined the swords of the Hwarangs.

The Sword Tomb was a sanctuary for the troops, so outsiders were not permitted to enter. The Hwarangs were the only ones who could see it.

That was why Seo Geom had to open the door himself and guide Seol Young.

“Come in.”

Seol Young followed him inside.

Inside, the lanterns were bright, and there was a smell of old stones and a faint smell of incense.

After passing through the front room and the passage, the Sword Tomb came into view.

The swords of all the Hwarangs of the Blue Dragons who died with honor were enshrined there.

“Here.”

Seo Geom immediately went to a certain spot.

“This is the sword that Hae Cheon-rang used during his entire lifetime.”

He pointed to a sleek, long silver sword. Judging from the fact that he found the sword at once, it meant that Seo Geom visited this place several times. It was probably because of the guilt that someone died because of his brother.

“Then start.”

“Yes.”

Seol Young stood in front of the sword and bowed to it.

“I am Seol Young, who once worked for the White Tiger Spirit Troops, and I am a simple Hwarang now. I am here to reveal the secret behind Hae Cheon-rang’s death.”

After introducing himself, he knelt down in front of the tomb and bowed. He bowed with sincerity, and his forehead touched the floor.

Seo Geom looked blankly at him from behind.

‘He isn’t starting right away.’

Seeing Seol Young bow politely despite their bad relationship, his stone heart softened a little.

“…”

On the other hand, when Seol Young saw that Seo Geom was being silent, he felt wary.

Wasn’t he in the middle of the enemy’s base?

Seo Geom fell for Seol Young’s words for a second, but he didn’t know when the man would change his mind.

‘He might suddenly stab or kick me.’

He thought that it was too quiet. Still, it was clear that Seo Geom wanted to know the truth, so he wouldn’t kill Seol Young right away.

He got up with that thought and straightened his back.

“Then let us start.”

First, he gathered spiritual qi in his hand.

The blue light that gathered lit up the stone wall on the other side. Seo Geom saw it and asked,

“It seems to be old. Can you use such a strong power? Isn’t it different from normal bodies?”

Seol Young looked back and said,

“At that time, I looked into the memory of the time of death, but we will go further back this time.”

“Further back?”

“Yes. If Seo Jun-rang isn’t a Disfigured Spirit, then what really happened then? That is what I will try to find out.”

Seol Young turned back to the sword.

“If there are still any shadows left, Sword Spirit, please let this junior know. What was the reason that the six Hwarangs died? What is the truth…”

He reached out his hand as he spoke politely. He supported his arm with one hand and carefully placed his fingers on the sword.

The cold, smooth sheath touched his fingers.

‘Show me.’

Seol Young closed his eyes, and a buzzing sound entered his ears.

The metallic sound ringing in his ear was louder than he thought. Some thoughts vanished, and some began to surface.

Suddenly, as if a fog had been lifted, he could see clearly.

“…The day after tomorrow, we will arrive at the capital.”

Someone’s voice came up.

With that sound, a certain vision began to appear.

Some Hwarangs were walking in front of him. As he looked at them, he noticed there were two Hwarangs from the Black Tortoises and two from the Vermillion Birds.

‘They are on their way back from the mission.’

Seo Jun-rang?

Just as he thought that, a hand approached him from the side. The hand was holding a bottle.

“Hae Cheon-rang! Thirsty?”

It was Seo Jun’s voice.

“Thank you!”

The guy reached for it and soon brought it to his mouth.

“Euk!”

He said that as the smell of alcohol stung his nose.

Everyone burst into laughter.

The Hwarang from the Vermillion Birds looked back.

“Seo Jun-rang! You cannot fill your stomach with alcohol. Don’t do such things for a while!”

They saw several thatched-roof houses along the foot of a mountain. It seemed that a small group of villagers lived there.

“Is anyone here?”

The Hwarangs entered the fence and called out, but no one answered back.

“Is anyone here?”

The door was left open. The Hwarang from the Black Tortoises looked inside and shouted,

“Look at this!”

Beyond the wide, open door, corpses lay face down. It looked like they were killed while trying to run. All of their faces were stiff with fear.

“The wounds?”

Everyone looked at them in shock and went outside. They scattered around, searching the other houses.

“There is a body here too!”

“Here too!”

They saw corpses strewn everywhere. None of them were hurt. They were just dead, with stiff faces of fear.

Seo Jun looked around too.

“Just what happened here?”

“This is bad. It would be better for us to leave this place for now and report this to the Governor.”

The Black Tortoise Hwarang said that with a serious look on his face.

And with Zaha being the Governor, they nodded.

“Right. That is right.”

“Come on, let’s get out of here now.”

They all turned around, but then…

“Umm…”

A thin groan could be heard from the piled-up bodies. The Hwarangs were a bit shocked, and they stepped outside. They pushed away some of the bodies and pulled out an old man.

“He is breathing!”

The two Hwarangs of the Vermillion Birds pulled out the old man.

“Elder! Are you awake?”

He looked around and shouted in surprise.

“What is this?”

Hae Cheon also approached them.

“What is that?”

He tried to peer over their shoulders, and Seol Young also looked as Hae Cheon-rang moved.

At that time,

Tak.

There was a small spark, and the field of vision turned black.

And then the Memory Projection ended.

‘Why?’

Seol Young opened his eyes, feeling odd, and Seo Geom stood there, looking confused.

“You said..”

“It wasn’t a failure.”

Seol Young said.

“It is not uncommon for the spell to be halted with force at times. Either it offended the spirit, or there was something at work that made the soul repulse it, or it was something we weren’t allowed to see.”

“So what did you see before it was stopped? What was it?”

“Something happened on their mission, on their way back. They passed by a village at the foothill…”

Seol Young briefly recounted what he had witnessed.

“…”

Seo Geom listened to him.

At that time, all six of them didn’t return from the mission. No one knew what had happened until the moment of their deaths.

So it was his first time hearing about the village.

“Such a thing happened?”

Seo Geom was lost in thought.

“Everybody died with terrified faces? Was there just one survivor? And what is strange about the old man? Why are you surprised?”

“There is no point thinking about it here. Let us try again.”

Seol Young stood, facing the sword.

“We need to uncover the truth behind Hae Cheon-rang’s death. Please help us one more time.”

He bowed again, and the Memory Projection resumed.

All sorts of chaotic scenes happened. But this time, it felt like he could uncover something.

Soon, his eyes brightened.

“… I am too weak…”

Came a voice.

The two Black Tortoise Hwarangs were laying the old man on the ground.

‘He is dead.’

The old man seemed to have stopped breathing right away.

A Hwarang of the Vermillion Birds shouted in surprise at the shock, and his colleague asked,

“Is it bothering you?”

“It seems strange. We can’t be mistaken, though, right?”

“Something must have happened here. Let us talk about it after we report it.”

“Did you record it?”

“Yes. I tried to record it as accurately as I could. Would you like to see it?”

The two looked at the paper and exchanged their opinions. One survivor was found—an old man.

That was what was written down.

‘I need to see it.’

Seol Young gathered more spiritual qi into his fingertips and infused it through the sword.

The scene in front of him became clearer.

Seol Young concentrated on the paper.

‘What is that?’