Where Does Fortune Come From? (3)
I decided to visit Tianmen Mountain.
I briefly considered stopping by the next time I had business in Hubei, but I resolved to go while the opportunity was there.
“I’m going to get some fresh air for a bit.”
The distance was considerable, and I had no idea what awaited me there, so I informed my parents.
“Where are you headed?”
“I’m going to Hubei.”
“Why Hubei?”
“I plan to visit the main headquarters of the Martial Alliance and make some future plans.”
“That’s a good idea. A man should know the wider world.”
My father fully supported me. Recently, he had come to trust me more, largely due to a particular incident.
Seo-jung had informed my father that the warriors of the Small Sword Brigade genuinely followed me. This news delighted him greatly.
He understood that earning people’s trust was far more challenging than advancing one’s martial skills.
At that time, my father called me over to repeat the advice he had given me before.
“Always maintain respect for those beneath you.”
I felt a pang of regret. If my father had been by my side, offering such advice repeatedly when I became the leader, my past life might have been different. Authority wouldn’t have been the sole priority in relationships; something else might have filled that space.
As I was leaving, my mother followed me out.
“Lin came by while you were out.”
“For what reason?”
“Just to pay her respects. We had a lovely time together.”
She came to see my mother? Through various events, I sensed that Song Hwa-rin was gradually changing.
“What are your true feelings about that girl?”
“My feelings are the same as before. Right now, I want to focus on what I want to do rather than marriage.”
Of course, my feelings might change.
At the moment, there are too many things I need to do, so I can’t even think about love. But who knows what the heart wants?
If I ever fall in love, my heart will signal it. It could be with someone new, or it might be Song Hwa-rin. It’s something that could change later.
I was moved by Song Hwa-rin’s defiance against Ma Jeong-su. I felt a sense of loneliness in Chil-ho’s gaze as he looked over the pond.
Changing relationships often comes down to a ‘trigger.’ It doesn’t matter if it’s small or large. If it happens at the right time, everything can change completely.
“Is what you’re doing these days what you truly want?”
“Yes.”
Parents wishing for their child to find a good partner likely worry that their child might lead a lonely and unhappy life.
So I confidently told my mother, “Mother, I’m very happy these days.”
Only then did my mother smile.
“That’s all that matters.”
“Before I leave, I’ll stop by the Song family estate.”
“There’s no need to do that on my account.”
I smiled at my mother, who was trying to ease my burden.
“No, I was planning to go anyway.”
I felt grateful that she had come to see my mother while I was away. I also felt a bit guilty about the punishment Song Woo-kyung had given me, which required me to meet Song Hwa-rin frequently.
“Hahaha. I’m glad you came.”
Song Woo-kyung was delighted by my visit.
If I didn’t at least pretend to accept the punishment, it wouldn’t be respectful to him.
“Alright, enough with the greetings. Go see Lin.”
“Understood.”
Song Woo-kyung practically pushed me out, looking so pleased that I felt coming here was the right decision.
Su-ran guided me to where Song Hwa-rin was.
Her gaze towards me wasn’t friendly. Naturally, I pretended not to notice.
When we reached near the training grounds, Su-ran stopped.
“Forgive me for saying this, but I must ask one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Please, never do that again. I beg you.”
Her face showed her genuine concern for her master.
“It won’t happen again.”
“Thank you.”
She bowed politely. At first glance, she might seem prickly and rude, but I found myself liking her more. It couldn’t have been easy for her to say such things to me.
But she had the courage to do it for Song Hwa-rin’s sake. Isn’t that what it means to truly care for someone? I felt reassured knowing Su-ran was by her side.
Song Hwa-rin was practicing her swordsmanship in the training grounds.
Her slender limbs moved gracefully, and seeing her drenched in sweat, training so earnestly, was truly a sight to behold.
She was practicing the technique I had pointed out. It seemed she was working to eliminate its weaknesses.
“Master Byeok is here,” Su-ran announced.
Song Hwa-rin stopped her training and walked over.
“You’re here?”
“Sorry to interrupt your training.”
“No, I was just about to finish.”
The swelling on her face had subsided, leaving almost no trace. Was it just my imagination, or did she seem brighter than before?
“You visited my home?”
“I went to see your mother.”
Come to think of it, Song Hwa-rin’s mother had passed away when she was young. In my past life, I was raised by my mother, but she was raised by her father.
She looked at me and said, “Would you watch my technique?”
“Of course.”
She demonstrated the technique from last time.
“You dodged this way and countered my move. So I thought of this method.”
She slightly modified her technique, effectively addressing its previous weakness. In a relatively short time, she had come up with a decent solution.
I extended my hand in a direction without drawing my sword.
“But what if I attack like this?”
Song Hwa-rin let out a short gasp. By altering her technique, a new vulnerability had emerged.
“So my solution wasn’t the answer.”
I nodded.
She smiled and said, “Thank you. I’ll think it over again.”
She could have asked me to teach her how to perfect the technique, but she didn’t. She wanted to figure it out on her own.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Punishment.”
“What?”
I relayed what Song Woo-kyung had said last time.
“Oh, Father.”
She gave a look of exasperation.
We chatted about various things. Perhaps because we were more comfortable with each other, the conversation flowed smoothly.
After talking for a while, we said our goodbyes.
“You’re going to Hubei, right? Have a safe trip.”
“Thank you.”
As I turned to leave, I heard her mutter from a distance.
“Next time, come without needing a punishment…”
She probably thought I wouldn’t hear, but my keen ears caught it clearly.
I pretended not to hear and left the place.
Six days later, I arrived at a village near Tianmen Mountain.
There were several villages around the mountain, and the one I reached was near Xianhe Peak. I had visited this place in my youth for martial arts competitions, but it felt unfamiliar, as if it were my first time.
I knew why. It wasn’t just because it was a long time ago. Even if I had come here ten times back then, it would still feel unfamiliar. At that time, the scenery didn’t catch my eye. I only focused on my opponents.
Returning here now, I realized how rushed my mindset had been.
I hadn’t done anything yet, just arrived here, but this journey was already teaching me something.
Yes, let’s take it easy.
Only by living differently can I achieve different results.
There was a small inn in the village.
Due to the lack of guests, the owner also farmed while running the inn.
When I asked the owner, my memory was confirmed. Xianhe Peak was the main peak of Tianmen Mountain, and it was so high and steep that even herbalists rarely climbed it.
After renting a room, I spent the day resting and recovering from the journey.
The next morning, I set out for the mountain at dawn.
What could possibly be on this mountain? What was I supposed to find?
I decided to climb to the summit first. Based on the contents left in the box, I thought something might be hidden somewhere along the path to the summit.
The terrain was extremely rugged. Even with my martial skills, it was challenging to climb. The lack of people made it difficult to find the path.
I would think I was on the right path, only to find myself heading back down the mountain. Or I would climb diligently, only to reach a dead end.
I didn’t recklessly use my martial arts to fly up the mountain.
What I was looking for here wasn’t a flag planted at the peak.
On the first day, I climbed the mountain with a relaxed mindset. In the end, I couldn’t find the path to the summit and descended before it got dark.
The next day, I set out early again.
Having wandered once before, I was able to climb the mountain more easily and quickly today.
But when I climbed a bit higher than the previous day, I lost the path again.
Of course, I could have used my martial arts to bypass this section, but I didn’t. I retraced my steps to a point where the path diverged and tried a different direction.
This time, I climbed much higher.
But again, I reached a point where the path ended. This wasn’t the right path either.
Of course, all this wasn’t in vain. I was carefully observing my surroundings as I searched for the path.
That night, I drank at the inn.
As the owner brought me some snacks, he asked curiously.
“So, what brings you to this small village?”
“I’m trying to climb Xianhe Peak.”
“Xianhe Peak?”
“Yes. A friend of mine boasted so much about the scenery there that I decided to come see it for myself.”
“Ah, I see. Yes, Xianhe Peak is indeed a mountain with breathtaking views. The rock at the summit resembles a crane, which is why it’s called Xianhe Peak. But the path is so treacherous that ordinary people can’t reach the summit.”
“It is indeed challenging. Is there anyone in the village who knows the mountain well?”
“The herbalist in our village would know best, but he’s off gathering herbs on another mountain. He won’t be back for at least a month.”
“I see.”
I wasn’t disappointed. From the start, I intended to find my own way.
“This mountain has been known for its treacherous terrain since ancient times. Many martial artists have come here to train. I’ve heard there was someone quite famous here long ago.”
My eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Do you know who it was?”
“I’m afraid I don’t remember. It was a story my grandfather told me when I was young. I only recall that he was a remarkable master.”
“Ah, I see.”
At least one thing was certain: the person who left the old paper in the box was from a long time ago.
“Here, have this to keep your strength up.”
“Thank you.”
As I listened to the distant hoot of an owl, I found myself more intoxicated by the rustic charm of the mountain village than by the drink.
Three days later, I finally discovered the path to the summit.
There was nothing at the top. Instead, a breathtaking view unfolded before me. From such a dizzying height, I felt a profound solitude, as if I were the last person left in the world.
It felt like I had become an immortal, but surely the paper hadn’t led me here just for this view.
The satisfaction of finding the path on my own was exhilarating.
Standing at the peak, I let out a triumphant shout.
“Ha-a-a!”
Not long after I began my descent, I stumbled upon a small cave.
It was just big enough for a person to crawl through, hidden in a spot that would be impossible to find without careful scrutiny.
I squinted into the darkness, but nothing was visible. The thought of entering filled me with dread.
Who knew if it was teeming with snakes or venomous insects? It might just be a den for small animals.
Could this be the place? What should I do?
Then it struck me.
This cave was likely one that no ordinary martial artist would find. If they could use advanced techniques, they wouldn’t bother with such a painstaking search.
Only someone who found their own way could discover this cave.
Perhaps that was the first test.
Yes, I should go in.
The cave was narrow and cramped. It felt like something might jump out at any moment, and the stench was overwhelming. I hesitated several times, wondering if I should turn back, convinced that no one else would venture this far. Fortunately, there were no snakes or venomous creatures.
After crawling for a while, the cave began to widen, and I could finally stand.
Ahead, I saw a bright light.
With a sense of relief, I moved toward it.
“Gasp!”
I was startled. There was only enough space for one foot, and below was a sheer drop.
Looking up, I saw the summit above. It was the part where the crane’s tail jutted out, and beneath that tail-like rock was a small cave.
From the summit, the cave below was invisible, and even if one tried to look down, the rock sloped in such a way that it couldn’t be seen.
Only from this precarious ledge could the cave entrance be spotted.
I realized that the paper in the box had led me to this very cave.
It was an incredibly difficult place to find. One had to discover the path up the mountain, pass through a seemingly insignificant cave, and have the courage to stand on this perilous ledge and look up. And one more thing: overcome the fear of this cliff and leap up to the entrance.
If I missed the entrance, I would plummet down the cliff.
I needed to use my martial arts skills, and even then, it required considerable expertise.
I leaped with all my might.
The distance was greater than I thought. I stretched my waist and arms.
Got it.
Hanging onto the cliff, I let out a sigh of relief.
I had barely reached the passage. Slowly, I pulled myself up. The cave entrance was larger than I expected. At least I could stand and walk inside.
After taking a deep breath, I slowly stepped into the cave.