Chapter 26 The Volcano Has Found a Blessing.

The hidden chamber was narrower than expected.

It was only natural, considering that if the Volcano had the wealth to create such a vast hidden space with eternal iron, it would have been known as the number one sect in the world.

"Always complaining about having no money. Turns out, they were spending it on things like this."

A deep frustration surged within, but what could be done? There was no point in arguing with the dead.

As Cheongmyeong grumbled and stepped inside, he looked around.

There were various items within the hidden chamber.

The first thing to check was? "Money!" Cheongmyeong's eyes widened.

It had to be here! The secret funds that the sect leader had carefully saved! Glimmering gold! Shiny treasures like splendid porcelain...

"It should be here."

Cheongmyeong glanced around, tilting his head.

What was going on? Why couldn’t he see anything? He opened his eyes wide and scanned the hidden chamber again and again.

But no matter how hard he looked, there was not a single shiny object in sight.

This couldn’t be right! "Ah, no."

Even if the sect leader was frugal, as a sect leader, he must have had many places to spend money! It was common sense to stash away some wealth to deal with the Volcano's crises or unforeseen situations.

"But why is there no money!"

A wave of deep sorrow washed over him.

Ha, that wretched man.

Did he not even have a secret fund? Cheongmyeong rubbed his face.

If there had been hidden funds, he could have used them for many good things.

To restore the Volcano, to restore it, to restore it...

"Ah, no! No! I am only purely for the restoration of the Volcano!"

It seemed he could hear someone clicking their tongue from somewhere.

"Sigh."

Letting go of his lingering thoughts, Cheongmyeong turned his head.

In fact, there was something more important than wealth.

"Is this it!"

On one wall of the hidden chamber, there was a bookshelf neatly lined with books.

Cheongmyeong swallowed hard and approached the shelf.

"This has to be it."

He pulled out a book from the middle and skimmed through its contents.

As he read each character, a smile gradually blossomed on his face.

"That's right!" It couldn’t be missing! As expected, the books displayed on the first shelf were the ledgers of the Volcano that the sect leader had meticulously organized.

These were things that should have been in the treasury, but it seemed the sect leader had made copies to keep them organized for situations only he could foresee.

There were not only the ledgers from Cheongmyeong's generation but also those from previous generations.

With this alone, he could strike back at those rotten scoundrels.

"Those bastards are all dead!"

This was worth all the trouble he had gone through to open the hidden chamber.

And on the second shelf...

"Oh ho!" Secret techniques! Cheongmyeong almost shouted without realizing it.

The practical secret techniques of the Volcano were here...

"Huh?" Cheongmyeong tilted his head.

"These aren’t the practical ones, though?"

His brows furrowed.

They were indeed secret techniques, but the ones here were somewhat different from the martial arts he had been learning.

They were secret techniques of martial arts that had almost been abandoned in the Volcano.

"Hmm."

Cheongmyeong scratched his cheek.

"What a foolish man."

Though he had decided not to pass them down to future generations, it was undeniable that they were all martial arts of the Volcano.

It seemed the sect leader found it difficult to completely discard and eliminate such martial arts.

Perhaps he feared that losing these martial arts would negatively impact the future of the Volcano, so he had gathered them here.

If the first shelf proved the sect leader's duty to the Volcano, then this second shelf contained his concerns and affection for it.

"…Sect leader."

Cheongmyeong felt his eyes sting and wiped his nose.

"Don’t worry. I will surely restore the Volcano to its former glory."

No, he would make it even more prosperous than before.

Cheongmyeong licked his lips and turned his body.

There were no secret techniques, but that was fine.

After all, the important martial arts formulas were all in Cheongmyeong's head.

It was just a hassle to write them down; having the secret techniques was not necessary.

He could just create them.

And finally... the third shelf was completely empty.

There was only a single rolled-up scroll lying in the empty shelf.

"What is this?" Without hesitation, Cheongmyeong reached out and unfolded the scroll.

He began to read it in one breath.

"To the esteemed sect leader. If someone is reading this, it means the next sect leader has been decided. Sometimes, a single line can convey more than a hundred words, so I leave my thoughts in writing.

The position of the sect leader of the Volcano is not one that leads the Volcano. Those who lead the Volcano are its disciples and the children growing within it. The sect leader's role is merely to protect them and support them in unfolding their own wishes.

I hope you can abandon the impatience that comes with being the sect leader of the Volcano. The Volcano is just the Volcano. It cannot be led by anyone, nor can it be wielded by anyone.

Future generations, when you tire from the burdens of reality and the heavy weight on your shoulders, remember this: the spirit of the Volcano does not fade. The Volcano is just the Volcano. Whether its momentum declines or flourishes in the world, the Volcano is just the Volcano.

What you must protect as the sect leader is the essence of the Volcano and its spirit. Ensure that the will of the predecessors, which they have safeguarded, continues to the future generations. And for ten thousand years, let it remain unchanged.

I leave this heavy burden to you as a predecessor and as the previous sect leader. Cheongmyeong, the twenty-first sect leader of the Great Volcano Sect."

"……."

Cheongmyeong quietly stared at the words written on the scroll.

He knew.

This was not a message left for him by the sect leader.

But it was ironic.

The person who needed to read this right now was none other than Cheongmyeong himself.

"Really... what a nagging man."

Cheongmyeong sighed and tucked the scroll into his bosom.

While he had to return the other things to the Volcano, he could not give up this scroll to the sect leader.

"Well then..."

Cheongmyeong chuckled and turned his body.

"I didn’t gain much more than I expected, but this should be alright."

For now, the important thing was that he had obtained the ledgers.

With just those ledgers, he could reclaim all the businesses of the Volcano.

Then he could free himself from the debts that were currently tightening around the Volcano.

So, at this point...

Cheongmyeong was about to step outside when he suddenly stopped. 'Wait a minute.' Something felt a bit off. 'What’s strange?' He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong, but an uneasy feeling lingered.

Why did he feel this way?

"Wait."

The third shelf? Cheongmyeong's head snapped around.

The sect leader.

So, the twenty-first sect leader of the Volcano, Cheongmun, was a bit of a neat freak.

Because of that, Cheongmun's room was always kept tidy.

It wasn’t just a matter of cleanliness.

Every piece of furniture and bedding was arranged perfectly, and he couldn’t stand it if the symmetry wasn’t right.

But.

How could there be two or three bookshelves filled with books on one side and an empty bookshelf with just a single scroll on the other? "No, no. That can’t be right."

I know the sect leader! Such a thing would not exist for us! Cheongmyeong rushed toward the empty shelf. 'There must be something!' There had to be! That awkwardly empty bookshelf was bothering him.

Did they really set up that shelf just to deliver that letter? The Cheongmyeong he knew would never do that.

If the one who entered here was not Cheongmyeong but the future sect leader, he wouldn’t have thought it was strange! But the person here right now was none other than Cheongmyeong.

He grabbed the bookshelf and without hesitation, moved it aside. 'There can’t be any traps outside.' So, there shouldn’t be anything behind the bookshelf.

That side was covered with eternal iron.

But what about below?

There must be something.

Of course, the floor would be covered with iron.

But? Cheongmyeong placed his hand on the floor after moving the bookshelf.

Then he began to draw in the energy of the surroundings. 'If I know the sect leader, it should be here!' If there was an awkward spot, that would be the trap.

Whoooosh! But nothing happened.

Wondering if he lacked strength, he pulled harder, but there was still no change. 'Is it not?' Just as he was about to awkwardly give up, he felt a shift. "……!" There it is! "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Cheongmyeong summoned all his strength to pull at the floor.

Clunk! Finally, he felt something give way, and he lost his balance, tumbling to the ground.

"Ouch!" He bumped his head a few times, and stars danced before his eyes. 'I hope it didn’t make too much noise.' Instinctively, he turned his head toward the entrance.

But there was no sign that the sect leader had noticed.

Although it led to the quarters, there was distance, and it would be soundproofed, so it wouldn’t be easily detected.

More importantly! Cheongmyeong sprang up and dashed forward.

Something had definitely opened.

Rushing back to the spot, Cheongmyeong looked at the hole in the floor and clenched his fist.

"Of course!" What kind of person was the sect leader! "He’s truly meticulous."

Just in case someone who wasn’t the sect leader entered this hidden chamber, he had created a double floor.

Anyone who had struggled to get in here would never imagine that another hidden chamber was concealed within.

Even Cheongmyeong wouldn’t have known what kind of person the sect leader was and might have just left.

Look! Light was pouring out from that entrance! Light! It was as if it was offering illumination to Cheongmyeong, a gentle glow spilling out.

Without hesitation, Cheongmyeong squeezed his body through the hole in the floor.

Even though he was still a small child, the entrance was small enough to be tight.

As he passed through, he found a low space where he could hardly straighten his back.

There, Cheongmyeong reached out.

Then he carefully closed the lid he had opened with great effort.

"Huff. Huff!" Now, no sound should leak out, right? So...

Cheongmyeong opened his eyes wide.

His breath quickened, and his heart raced.

Blood rushed to his face, and it felt like he would burst at any moment.

But what did it matter? "Hehehe!" He was overjoyed! Happiness lay before him.

Neatly stacked on one side were gold bars.

And on the other side were various precious swords arranged in order.

And...

"Is this a mysterious stone?" Even unidentifiable jewels and secret techniques! "Hehehe!" Laughter bubbled up uncontrollably.

Even if he tried to hold it back, foolish laughter spilled out without restraint.

"Hehehehehe!" Yes.

Let’s laugh! Laugh! "I am now rich!" The moment when the fate of the Volcano passed to someone who should never have entered was finally upon them, despite the efforts of the twenty-first sect leader of the Volcano, Cheongmun, to avoid such a situation at all costs.