Chapter 40: A Sect Even Beggars Wouldn’t Pick Up! (Part 5)

Chung Myung raised his head with a grave expression. His clenched jaw tilted upward slightly.

A little more.

A little more.

And a little more.

"..."

Only after tilting his neck to the point where it felt like it might snap did Chung Myung finally see what he was looking for.

A sheer cliff.

A terrifying cliff so high that its peak was obscured by mist, stretching endlessly into the sky, filled Chung Myung's vision.

Chung Myung: "...You crazy bastard."

A hollow laugh escaped his lips.

The people of Mount Hua called this cliff the Duanchang Cliff (断肠崖, Cliff of Broken Hearts). Among the Five Great Mountains, Mount Hua was renowned for its treacherous terrain, and this cliff was the highest and most dangerous of them all.

And right in the middle of this perilous cliff was the place Chung Myung was now searching for.

The most secretive spot among Mount Hua's many hidden locations. A place known only to a select few within Mount Hua. A place so secretive that even among those few, only a handful truly knew of its existence!

Chung Myung: "Well, I'm the only one who knows."

Somewhere around the middle of this cliff was a small cave that could only be found by climbing directly to it.

The Duanchang Cliff was off-limits to disciples for light-foot training due to its danger. But Chung Myung, being the kind of person who had to do exactly what he was told not to do, had often practiced his light-foot techniques here.

It was during one of these sessions that he had accidentally discovered the small cave halfway up the cliff, and from then on, he had used it as his personal hideout.

Chung Myung: "It's been a great help."

For example, it was the perfect place to drink alcohol away from the eyes of his senior brother, Jang Mun. Or to sneak some meat. Or to take a nap...

Chung Myung: "Senior Brother Jang Mun."

Chung Myung: "Why did you let me live?"

Chung Myung: "You should've just killed me."

Now that he was in this position, Chung Myung could understand why Senior Brother Jang Mun would lose his temper every time he saw him. If Chung Myung were in his shoes, he would've beaten himself to death.

But even without switching places, Chung Myung now felt the urge to beat his past self to death.

Chung Myung: "No, you crazy bastard..."

His neck felt like it was about to snap.

No sane person would even think of using the middle of such a cliff as a hideout. Only someone as crazy as Chung Myung would do something like this.

And now, the present Chung Myung was paying the price for it.

If it were the Plum Blossom Sword Saint Chung Myung, he could have scaled this cliff with just a few leaps. But the current Chung Myung, one of Mount Hua's top three disciples, found it impossible to climb this cliff.

This was why it was called the Duanchang Cliff!

There was no place to step, nothing to hold onto. The cliff was so smooth that just looking at it made one's heart feel cold.

This was how the cliff had always been.

It wasn't because Chung Myung had deliberately smoothed out the cliff face to prevent others from discovering the cave.

Chung Myung: "...You really outdid yourself."

To feel murderous intent toward his past self—who in the world would have such an experience?

Chung Myung: "Huu."

After letting out a deep sigh, Chung Myung looked up at the cliff again with determined eyes.

Chung Myung: "I'm going anyway!"

There was no turning back.

If someone asked why he was climbing the cliff, Chung Myung would answer like this:

Chung Myung: "There's a spirit pill up there! Damn it!"

If his memory was correct, there were Plum Blossom Pills and Snow Plum Pills in that cave!

Because that was where Chung Myung used to drink himself unconscious and pass out. He had stashed the Plum Blossom Pills there to cure his hangovers.

Chung Myung: 'I really had no sense of responsibility.'

Even though they were spirit pills, which were as common as pebbles on the ground, stashing them away for hangover relief was not something a sane person would do.

But thanks to that, the current Chung Myung now had a chance.

After staring resolutely at the Duanchang Cliff, Chung Myung turned around and strode into the forest on the opposite side.

Chung Myung: "Huuuuuu."

Chung Myung took a deep breath.

Chung Myung: "No matter how I think about it, this is insane."

Chung Myung was now standing at the top of the Duanchang Cliff. He had circled around to the opposite ridge. In his hand was a long rope made of woven vines.

No matter how he thought about it, climbing up the cliff from below to reach the cave was impossible. The cliff was too smooth, and the height was too great.

For Chung Myung, who was still just a child, this cliff was far too harsh.

But what if he went down from above? That would be much easier than climbing up from below.

There was just one problem...

Chung Myung: "It's about ten times more dangerous."

Chung Myung glanced down and unconsciously gulped. He couldn't see the bottom. All he could see was the sheer cliff and the mist hanging in the middle of it.

He quietly stepped back.

And clutched his chest.

Chung Myung: "Ah, damn it. My legs are shaking."

This was a place he used to stroll through like a garden, but now it felt like the entrance to hell. How many people in their right mind would think of descending this place with just a rope?

But in life, there were things you did because you wanted to and things you did because you had to. This was clearly the latter.

Chung Myung: "You only die once, you only die twice... No, you die twice."

Chung Myung first tied the rope securely to a nearby rock. This rope was his lifeline. After tugging on it several times to make sure it was secure, he took a deep breath and stepped to the edge of the cliff.

Chung Myung: "Haa."

Chung Myung: "Saving Mount Hua is such a pain. Why do I have to risk my life for this?"

Chung Myung: "Damn it!"

After cursing, Chung Myung boldly began to descend the cliff.

Descending a smooth cliff was anything but easy. There was barely any place to grip. Chung Myung relied on the tiniest crevices, and when there were none, he used the Wall-Clinging Technique to stick to the surface.

As he struggled down the cliff, curses naturally spilled from his lips.

Chung Myung: "Ack! Damn it! Son of a bitch! If I'd known it would be like this, I would've learned the Wall Tiger Technique!"

He had thought of it as a mere acrobatic skill and hadn't bothered to learn it, but now he regretted it.

Then it happened.

Thud! Thud-thud!

The small rock he had stepped on crumbled and fell.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Chung Myung stared blankly at the falling rock. It bounced off the cliff and disappeared into the thick mist.

And after a while...

Thud!

Chung Myung: "...Wow."

Chung Myung: "It takes that long to reach the bottom from here. If I fall, there won't even be a body left. Seriously."

After shivering once, Chung Myung gulped.

Even the Plum Blossom Sword Saint Chung Myung, who had faced the Heavenly Demon without fear, would be terrified of falling to his death. That was a story for when the opponent was the Heavenly Demon. Even if death was the same, falling off a cliff was not the way he wanted to go.

Chung Myung: 'Imagine dying here and going to the afterlife.'

Chung Myung: 'How would my senior brothers view me, who had ended his second life by falling to his death? He would go from being a hero who defeated the Heavenly Demon to the biggest fool in the world. That was absolutely unacceptable.'

Chung Myung: "Ugh."

Chung Myung began to move his hands quickly.

At first, it was a bit awkward, but after a few repetitions, he was scaling the cliff as nimbly as a lizard.

Chung Myung: 'It should be around here somewhere.'

Chung Myung, who had been descending, frowned. There was a large crack in the middle of the cliff.

Chung Myung: 'I can't go inside.'

That meant he had to jump...

Chung Myung: "Huu."

After taking a deep breath, Chung Myung looked down with determined eyes.

Chung Myung: "I'm the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, after all!"

Chung Myung: "I can't be scared of something like this!"

He boldly threw himself downward. As he felt his body lift slightly, the cliff rushed toward him.

Chung Myung: "Eura-cha!"

At the right moment, he reached out and grabbed a protruding rock. Hanging precariously from the cliff, Chung Myung shouted.

Chung Myung: "Ugh, my legs are shaking!"

But thanks to that, he had covered quite a distance...

Thud.

Chung Myung: "Huh?"

Chung Myung's head snapped upward. His eyes fell on the protruding rock he was holding.

Chung Myung: "No way?"

Thud-thud!

Chung Myung: "..."

Chung Myung: "No, that's..."

Chung Myung: "A little help here. Have some conscience."

Crack!

The rock broke instantly, and Chung Myung's body began to fall.

Chung Myung: "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik!"

Chung Myung flailed his limbs desperately in midair.

Chung Myung: 'If I fall here?'

Chung Myung: 'I'll die. The outcome is so certain there's no room for doubt.'

Chung Myung: 'Die?'

Chung Myung: 'Me? Chung Myung?'

Then it happened.

Thud!

A strong impact suddenly hit his waist, and Chung Myung's body floated upward.

Chung Myung: "Huh?"

Chung Myung's vision filled with the swaying rope.

Chung Myung: 'That's right!'

Thud! Thud!

After bouncing a couple of times, the movement slowed. Hanging from the rope, Chung Myung let out a deep sigh. Then, after a moment, he burst into laughter.

Chung Myung: "As expected, preparation is key!"

If he hadn't tied the rope, he would've been done for. He had been worried that the vine rope might not hold, but fortunately, it seemed strong enough to support his small body.

Chung Myung glanced around.

Chung Myung: 'There it is!'

Chung Myung's eyes sparkled.

Not far from where he was hanging, he could see a protruding part of the cliff. Below it was his hideout. He had roughly estimated the length of the rope, and it seemed to have worked out!

Chung Myung: "Heh. Heaven is on my side."

Chung Myung took a deep breath and gripped the rope. First, he had to stick to the cliff. To do that, he needed to build some momentum...

Chung Myung: "Eut-cha!"

Chung Myung began to swing his body. At first, the rope didn't move, but as he continued to swing, it gradually began to sway back and forth.

Chung Myung: 'Now, adjust the angle.'

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

Chung Myung's body, hanging from the rope, moved away from the cliff and then swung back toward it. The arc grew larger, and he was almost touching the cliff.

Chung Myung: "Eura-chaaaaa!"

He reached out to grab the cliff, but the rock was so smooth that he couldn't get a grip with just one hand.

Chung Myung: "One more time!"

Chung Myung kicked off the cliff and swung back. This time, he would use both hands...

Thud-thud!

Chung Myung: "Huh?"

Chung Myung's head snapped upward like lightning. His eyes locked onto the exact spot he wanted.

The vine rope was half-cut, barely holding on.

Chung Myung: "Eh."

Chung Myung: "No way."

Chung Myung: "Usually, in situations like this, the rope would hold until you reached the cliff and then snap..."

Snap!

Chung Myung: "...Like hell! Aaaaaah!"

With the momentum from his swing, Chung Myung's body began to fall.

Chung Myung: "Hiiiiiiiiik! I'm going to die! I'm really going to die!"

Thanks to the momentum, he managed to get close to the cliff. Using all the strength he could muster, Chung Myung drove his hand into the cliff.

Crack!

With a sickening crunch, Chung Myung's body plummeted.

Chung Myung: "Aaaaaah! Damn it!"

His wrist couldn't handle the weight and speed. Desperately, Chung Myung stabbed his other hand into the cliff.

Crack!

But the result was the same.

Chung Myung: "Ah, what the! It's not like my bones are made of straw! Why do they break so easily? You damn body!"

Chung Myung: "If you're going to live, you need to cooperate!"

Chung Myung flailed his arms and legs desperately. It looked like he was swimming in midair, but it seemed to have some effect as he managed to get closer to the cliff.

Chung Myung: "Huaaaaap!"

Chung Myung: "If my hands won't work, then my whole body!"

Chung Myung clung to the cliff like a frog. He scraped the cliff with his feet and hugged it with his arms instead of his broken hands.

Chung Myung: "Aaaaaah! It's hot! Ah, it's hot!"

His entire body was burning from the friction, but it had some effect. His falling speed decreased significantly.

Chung Myung: 'Now, if he could just find that protruding part!'

Looking down, Chung Myung smiled contentedly.

Chung Myung: 'There's no way there's a protruding part here.'

Chung Myung: 'This is the Duanchang Cliff, after all.'

But as if fate wasn't done with him, he found an even better spot. A place much safer than a protruding rock.

Chung Myung: "Heh. The ground."

Chung Myung: "It's the ground."

Chung Myung: "Falling is instantaneous."

As Chung Myung chuckled, his body slammed into the ground.

Boom!

Chung Myung: "Ugh."

The impact sent him bouncing back up into the air before he fell again.

Thud!

Dust flew in all directions. Covered in the dust, Chung Myung's entire body trembled.

Chung Myung: "I'm... alive."

Thanks to clinging to the cliff and slowing his fall, he had avoided instant death. But his entire body felt shattered. There wasn't a part of him that didn't hurt.

Chung Myung: "Uuuuugh."

After groaning for a while, Chung Myung barely managed to sit up and glared at the cliff with bloodshot eyes.

Chung Myung: "...I'll climb you no matter what, you damn cliff!"

Crack.

Chung Myung: "Ah. My jaw's dislocated."