Episode 167: Interlude

Dang Mujin’s life had returned to its usual rhythm.

No longer was he the martial artist who wielded a sword and dealt in poisons. Instead, he resumed his role as a physician, tending to the cuts and bruises of farmers and preparing their medicines.

Of course, this didn’t mean he had completely abandoned his martial arts training.

While others might find the training grueling and exhausting, Dang Mujin relished the gradual changes he felt with each session.

However, now that he was back to his daily life, there was one important task he needed to complete first: his wedding.

Dang Mujin and Dan Seol-young began to carve out time to prepare for their wedding. Yet, the person most engrossed in the preparations wasn’t the couple themselves, but Dang Jeseon.

“My dear daughter-in-law, do you think this will do?”

Dang Jeseon showed Dan Seol-young a piece of green silk, the finest from the renowned Shu region.

For centuries, the area around Sichuan had been famous for producing the highest quality silk in the world. Traders from all over, even those from distant lands, would go out of their way to acquire it, a testament to its unmatched quality.

The silk Dang Jeseon presented was the best of the best, even among Sichuan’s offerings.

Naturally, it came with a hefty price tag. Even though it was purchased directly from the source, the cost was eye-popping. On top of that, they had to pay extra to skip the line of waiting merchants, making it seem as if the entire year’s earnings of the Dang family clinic had gone into this single bolt of silk.

Dang Jeseon also planned to have the finest tailor craft a dress from it, meaning the expenses were far from over.

Dan Seol-young, being quite frugal, was visibly uneasy from the moment she heard about the cost of the dress.

At this point, it was hard to tell if the silk dress was getting married or if she was.

“Father-in-law, isn’t this a bit too extravagant?”

“It’s not for just anyone; it’s for my daughter-in-law. I can afford to splurge a little. Besides, the clinic is doing well these days, and Mujin occasionally brings in a good sum.”

Yet, Dan Seol-young couldn’t shake her unease, and Dang Jeseon burst into laughter.

“Don’t worry. If it bothers you, you can keep the dress safe and pass it down to your children. When they get married wearing this silk, it will have been worth every penny.”

Dang Jeseon imagined his future grandchildren, wearing the green silk on their wedding day, and couldn’t help but smile.

In truth, he had always wanted to give Dan Seol-young a fine dress. She had come from a distant land and had always fulfilled her role admirably. He felt guilty for not having done more for her sooner.

Dan Seol-young hesitated, then asked, “But what about Mujin’s clothes?”

“His outfit can be made from a slightly cheaper silk. He doesn’t care much about appearances.”

”···”

“There’s no need to worry. If he wants something better, he can handle it himself. You know how easily he earns money when he works at the forge.”

Dang Mujin, like Dan Seol-young, wasn’t particularly interested in clothes. As long as his attire was presentable, that was enough for him.

Of course, he couldn’t wear his everyday clothes for the wedding, so as Dang Jeseon suggested, he would have a new outfit made from relatively inexpensive silk.

Even so, it would still be more luxurious than what most people could afford in a lifetime.

While Dang Jeseon took care of the wedding preparations and Dan Seol-young, Dang Mujin focused on the guests gathering for the occasion.

Familiar faces from the village, fellow physicians who had learned from his father and Chusam, blacksmiths who had settled in Chengdu, and those who had left the demonic cult to live near the Dang family clinic. Even that was quite a crowd.

Thanks to the invitations sent before leaving for Yangyang, people from all over the central plains began to arrive.

There were the blacksmith Feng from Zhongjing, a couple of acquaintances from Luoyang, a few villagers from the foot of Shaolin, and some from Nogunsan.

For them, it was an opportunity to travel to Sichuan with expenses covered, so there was no reason to refuse.

As people gathered, Hwang Ryeong-ja and Jin Song from the Qingcheng sect felt a sense of pride.

The name of the Qingcheng sect carried weight, and people treated Hwang Ryeong-ja and Jin Song with respect.

“Humph.”

Lately, Jin Song’s life hadn’t been as enjoyable as before. While it was one thing for Dang Mujin’s martial prowess to have grown, the presence of so many skilled fighters around the Dang family clinic was another.

As Jin Song’s relative standing diminished, those who once bowed to him now saw him as just another local with some martial skills.

However, visitors from afar treated Jin Song with a certain deference, allowing him to savor a rare sense of superiority.

But as uninvited guests began to arrive, Jin Song had to adopt a more humble demeanor.

First came the Shaolin monk Cheongwook, rumored to be the next great master, along with several other monks. The next day, Namgung Jinya, the brother of the Namgung family head, arrived with three martial artists from the Namgung clan.

The reputations of these individuals were on a different level compared to Hwang Ryeong-ja or Jin Song.

Jin Song asked Hwang Ryeong-ja, “Master, what exactly did Mujin do while he was away?”

“I have no idea.”

And they were just the beginning. Next came the head of the Emei sect, Hyang Baek-sa-tae, accompanied by a few nuns.

Hyang Baek-sa-tae’s relationship with Dang Mujin was tenuous at best, so she hadn’t intended to attend the wedding personally.

However, with Emei Mountain not far from Chengdu and the certainty that Hwa Yeon-shin-ni would attend, she had no choice but to make an appearance. Sending a subordinate would only invite complaints from Hwa Yeon-shin-ni, so she had to visit the Dang family clinic herself.

With the situation as it was, martial artists from various regions were taken aback.

They had expected to be the center of attention, but formidable figures were everywhere.

‘This isn’t the wedding of some sect leader’s only daughter or the son of a high-ranking official. What is going on here?’

The subtle tension between the Shaolin, Namgung, and Emei sects didn’t last long.

When Hwa Yeon-shin-ni and Sam An-bul appeared, their presence overshadowed everyone else.

A legendary master who had achieved eternal youth and a notorious demon from the central plains, appearing together in harmony.

Ordinary guests with no ties to the martial world had no idea what was happening, but those with some martial skills felt a sense of unease, fearing something serious might occur.

Of course, with so many people gathered, there were bound to be some with strained relationships.

For instance, the Shaolin monk Cheongwook wasn’t fond of Sam An-bul. However, with no way to subdue Sam An-bul with the monks present and not wanting to ruin the wedding, he had to pretend not to notice.

Finally, the wedding began.

The procession started from the courtyard of the Dang family clinic, circled the village, and returned to the courtyard.

All eyes were on Dan Seol-young as she stepped out of the palanquin, and on Dang Mujin, who awaited her.

There were no elaborate rituals. The couple simply bowed to each other and then to Dang Jeseon, who beamed with joy.

The guests raised their voices in celebration, and the festivities continued late into the night.

In a corner, Mok Wan-ah sat quietly, watching Dang Mujin with a forlorn gaze.

Time passed, and one winter evening, Dan Seol-young gave birth to a daughter.

Dang Jeseon, as if he had been waiting for this moment, named his granddaughter Dang Yeong, wishing her a long life.

Born less than eight months after the wedding, she should have been a premature baby, but Dang Yeong was healthier than most full-term infants.

A premature baby being stronger than others was unusual, but no one at the Dang family clinic found it odd.

As more time passed and Dang Yeong began to wiggle her hands and feet and roll over, a man arrived at the clinic.

He had a slender face but a strong, determined look.

Dang Mujin greeted him with a respectful bow.

“Master Wi Hwan, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

Though their acquaintance was brief, Dang Mujin recognized him well.

Wi Hwan was a martial artist from the Wudang sect, present during Dang Mujin’s first encounter with Sam An-bul.

Wi Hwan’s younger brother, Wi Yeong, also a master, had died at Sam An-bul’s hands, but Wi Hwan had survived and returned to Wudang.

Had Sam An-bul and Wi Hwan met, there might have been trouble, but fortunately, Sam An-bul had gone out for a leisurely walk.

Wi Hwan chuckled awkwardly.

“I’m not sure I’m old enough to be called ‘Master.’”

“But calling you ‘brother’ seems a bit much, given the age difference.”

“True, I am over forty now…”

Wi Hwan smiled gently, but there was a hint of unease and urgency in his eyes.

Sensing this, Dang Mujin asked directly.

“What brings you here, by the way?”

“I need your help urgently. It’s been a while, and here I am asking for a favor. I know it’s shameless…”

“It’s fine. We’ve been through life-and-death situations together, haven’t we? So, what kind of help do you need?”

Wi-hwan hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“It’s about Jin-gwang.”

“Yu Jin-gwang? Isn’t that an internal matter for the Jeomchang Sect?”

“It’s not that simple. Yu Jin-gwang didn’t return to the Jeomchang Sect; he took a different path.”

“What?”

Wi-hwan’s voice lacked its usual strength.

“After winning a gamble against Mang-geum, Yu Jin-gwang’s demeanor changed. He used to live without much worry, but suddenly he seemed burdened and then vanished without returning to the sect.”

“Hmm. Do you know where he went?”

“To keep track of him, the head of the sect and I have been asking around. Recently, we heard that someone resembling Yu Jin-gwang has been seen wandering in the north of Shaanxi.”

Shaanxi. A place where one could live reasonably well.

Yet, there was a subtle darkness in Wi-hwan’s voice. Dang Mu-jin asked, just in case.

“Did he cross into Shaanxi Province?”

“Yes.”

Shaanxi Province is still within the realm of the central plains and the influence of the orthodox martial world.

But beyond Shaanxi, the situation changes. It’s a region where the influence of orthodox martial artists wanes, and the unorthodox ones thrive.

“Can you tell me more?”

“I don’t know the details. But there are rumors that Yu Jin-gwang has been killing people indiscriminately.”

Dang Mu-jin could guess why Wi-hwan had come to him.

There was no physician more renowned than Dang Mu-jin, and he was the only one who could treat ailments related to martial artists.

If there was one doctor in the central plains who could deal with demonic energy invading the bone marrow, it would undoubtedly be Dang Mu-jin.

However, there was another issue.

“Have you met Yu Jin-gwang in person?”

Wi-hwan shook his head.

“No. We scoured the north with the Jeomchang Sect’s martial artists but couldn’t find him. The north of Shaanxi is vast, after all.”

“As you know, I can’t solve that kind of problem.”

“I understand. That’s why I need your help and Hong Geol-gae’s as well. I know it’s a lot to ask…”

Wi-hwan fidgeted with his fingers, genuinely apologetic.

But Dang Mu-jin didn’t quite grasp the implication of Wi-hwan’s request.

“Hong Geol-gae? Why do you need him?”

Wi-hwan looked at Dang Mu-jin and explained.

“Isn’t Hong Geol-gae incredibly lucky? If you go north with him, I’m sure you’ll find Yu Jin-gwang.”

It sounded like nonsense, but there was a certain logic to Wi-hwan’s words.