Episode 226: The Disciples
There are many spectacles in the world, but nothing draws a crowd quite like a good fight.
A brawl in a back alley is entertaining enough, but the chance to witness a duel between renowned masters? That’s a rare treat indeed.
People flocked to the Tang Family Manor for just such an event.
Those who were quick on their feet managed to secure spots inside the manor’s walls, while others perched on the wall itself or climbed trees for a better view.
Many, unable to find a vantage point, clamored to be let in, but Tang Mujin had no intention of solving such problems. Nor did he see any reason to.
Those who made it inside on time watched the small platform with eager anticipation.
Who would dare to challenge the infamous Blood Rain Guest?
Yet, the atmosphere was unexpectedly subdued. Despite the crowd, silence reigned.
After what felt like an eternity, a brave soul finally spoke up.
“Is there no one here with a grudge against the Blood Rain Guest?”
A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd, but no challengers emerged.
Just as some impatient spectators began to leave, a high-pitched voice cut through the air.
“I am Gang Yeo-ran, the Lady of the Underworld from Ban County!”
All eyes turned to her.
She appeared to be in her forties, a woman whose beauty had likely attracted many admirers in her youth, and her martial prowess was clearly above average.
The crowd marveled at the fact that the first challenger was a woman.
The spectators, mostly gossip enthusiasts, whispered among themselves.
“Starting with someone well-known, huh? But wasn’t her nickname the Fox of the Underworld, not the Lady?”
“These rogue martial artists love giving themselves fancy titles. At least she dropped the ‘Miss’ from her nickname. Calling herself a ‘Miss’ past forty would be a stretch.”
“Miss or Lady, what’s the difference…”
The murmurs were loud enough for Gang Yeo-ran to hear, but she remained unfazed. She knew better than to react to every little comment.
The Blood Rain Guest, arms crossed, seemed to remember something and clapped his hands softly.
The crowd held its breath, waiting for his words.
“Gang Yeo-ran. Didn’t we meet near Liuzhi five or six years ago?”
Surprised that the famous Blood Rain Guest remembered her, a faint smile appeared on Gang Yeo-ran’s lips.
She straightened her posture confidently.
“You remember me?”
“Of course. Few women have challenged me, and even fewer with your skill.”
His voice trembled slightly, unused to speaking before such a large audience.
Despite his nervousness, his words were smooth, as if he’d learned a thing or two from Xian Gong.
Gang Yeo-ran replied with a hint of playfulness.
“You took your time recognizing me.”
“I recognized you right away. I just couldn’t place where we’d met.”
Encouraged by his unexpectedly friendly demeanor, Gang Yeo-ran pressed on.
“I can’t stand the thought of you abandoning your rogue ways to join the orthodox sects.”
Her bold statement drew admiration from the crowd.
The spectators, tense with anticipation, clenched their fists, expecting the Blood Rain Guest to unleash a storm of violence.
But he merely shrugged.
“I’m not joining the orthodox sects. I just want to leave the martial world and live as an ordinary man.”
”…In any case, if you defeat me with your sword, I’ll let go of my grievances.”
In truth, Gang Yeo-ran had no real issue with the Blood Rain Guest leaving his rogue life behind. She simply wanted another chance to cross swords with him.
Her previous encounter with him had led to a breakthrough in her martial arts, and she hoped for another such opportunity.
She wasn’t afraid. She knew from their past encounter that, contrary to rumors, he was surprisingly gentle.
In a way, she intended to use him, but the Blood Rain Guest welcomed the challenge.
What better way for martial artists to resolve matters than through a duel?
“Indeed. A martial artist speaks through their sword.”
Both drew their swords simultaneously.
There was no formal start, no offer to let the other take the first move. The Blood Rain Guest moved with breathtaking speed, targeting Gang Yeo-ran’s weak points, while she quickly raised her sword to block.
Watching from the sidelines, Tang Mujin and Xian Gong exchanged words.
“The outcome is clear.”
“It seems Brother Zhang isn’t in a hurry to end it.”
“He’s showing some courtesy.”
Had the Blood Rain Guest fought with full force, Gang Yeo-ran wouldn’t have lasted more than a few moves.
But he allowed her to save face, taking his time to claim victory.
Gang Yeo-ran seemed satisfied, as if she’d gained new insights from the duel.
“I, Gang Yeo-ran, the Lady of the Underworld, accept the result.”
“Thank you.”
As the atmosphere turned unexpectedly warm, others who had gathered with similar hopes began to step forward.
Gang Yeo-ran had provided a convenient excuse.
“Blood Rain Guest! How can you deny your past and speak of a new life? You’ll have to defeat me first!”
“I remember you from Nampyeong. Let’s see how much you’ve improved.”
The Blood Rain Guest recalled most of the challengers, remembering when and where he’d met them.
One by one, martial artists from the rogue sects challenged him.
After a while, even those from the orthodox sects joined in, using similar excuses.
“We must ensure you’re not infiltrating the orthodox sects with ill intentions.”
“How can you tell?”
“By crossing swords, of course!”
The duels, which began early in the day, continued until sunset.
Even for a skilled fighter, enduring endless challenges is no easy feat, especially at the Blood Rain Guest’s age.
Though exhausted, he was content. Once they crossed swords, the martial artists acknowledged him and withdrew.
Two days passed, and the eve of the lunar new year approached.
The atmosphere at the Tang Family Manor was harmonious.
Everyone, from the Blood Rain Guest to the orthodox and rogue martial artists, the spectators, and even the hermit monk, seemed satisfied with the situation.
The only one displeased was Tang Ying, who’d missed his afternoon nap due to the crowd.
By the last day, people began to realize something.
No one at the manor seemed to have a genuine grudge or debt against the Blood Rain Guest. They were merely using flimsy excuses to challenge him.
‘Did he kill everyone who held a grudge? Or did they just not come? That’s odd. Was he really someone who didn’t make enemies? That can’t be right.’
Everyone pondered these questions.
But as the afternoon of the last day arrived, three individuals stepped onto the platform, breaking the pattern.
The saying goes that as a man ages, he must take responsibility for his face.
While looks are beyond one’s control, a person’s face often reflects their actions and character.
Occasionally, someone’s face and personality don’t match. But when three people with similar expressions gather, it’s time to take things seriously.
The three who now stood on the platform didn’t have pleasant expressions.
Unlike the straightforward, rugged demeanor of most rogue martial artists, they looked like the kind of people you’d want to avoid. Their martial skills were also inferior to any of the previous challengers.
Yet, the Blood Rain Guest’s reaction was peculiar.
For the past two days, he’d faced renowned masters with unwavering confidence. But now, he seemed visibly flustered.
The man with the unkempt hair spoke.
“Master.”
…Master?
Tang Mujin recalled a story the Blood Rain Guest had once shared. He’d mentioned his disciples only once, saying he’d fled because they seemed to expect something harsh and brutal from him.
The Blood Rain Guest replied hesitantly.
“Uh… It’s been a while.”
The unkempt man spoke reproachfully.
“Do you know how worried we were when you suddenly disappeared?”
”…I’m sorry.”
“Your disappearance complicated our lives quite a bit.”
”…What?”
Tang Mujin considered intervening but decided to watch quietly.
He didn’t know the full story, and this was something the Blood Rain Guest needed to handle himself.
“Complicated? What happened?”
“When a master vanishes right after taking on disciples, it naturally complicates things. Because of you, we missed the prime time to learn martial arts.”
The Blood Rain Guest replied in a slightly smaller voice.
“Prime time? You didn’t seem all that young when we met.”
“Of course, that’s true. But the timing was terrible. If we had known our master would disappear like that, we would have become disciples of the Blood Tyrant Sword. We turned down their offer to follow you, only to find you gone.”
“Back then, there was no talk of the Blood Tyrant Sword. Besides, you were only with me for four days, if I recall correctly…”
“Four days or four years, what difference does it make? By the time you left, the Blood Tyrant Sword had vanished too. We missed our chance because of you!”
It was a bizarre scene: a group of second-rate thugs trying to intimidate a martial arts master. Yet, the Rainy Wanderer seemed at a loss, apologizing awkwardly.
“Is that so… I’m sorry. I had my reasons. Please forgive me.”
Nearby, Hyun Gong nudged Tang Mu-jin.
“Why?”
“Those guys, even from a distance, don’t seem particularly skilled. Do you really think the Blood Tyrant Sword wanted them as disciples?”
“Who knows? There’s no proof otherwise, so we should give them the benefit of the doubt.”
Tang Mu-jin didn’t believe their story either. The three men looked more like con artists or street thugs than legitimate martial artists.
The man with the wild hair raised his voice at the Rainy Wanderer.
“We accepted that. Even if it was just four days, we respected you as our master and held no grudge. But after traveling all this way to see you, we find you’ve taken on new disciples.”
All eyes turned to Nam Woong, who frowned under the sudden attention.
The Rainy Wanderer was even more flustered.
“Well… it just happened that way. I’m sorry.”
The wild-haired man sighed deeply and continued.
“I don’t care if you want to move on from the past. But!”
“But?”
“Take us back as your disciples. We’ll stay at the Tang Manor too.”
“Taking you back as disciples is one thing, but staying at the Tang Manor isn’t up to me. I’m not the head of the manor.”
“Master!”
The wild-haired man shouted, cutting off the Rainy Wanderer.
Thinking he had the upper hand, he pressed on.
“That’s just an excuse. You’re planning to betray us again, aren’t you?”
The wild-haired man and his two companions wore increasingly hostile expressions.
Hyun Gong, observing their demeanor, was convinced.
‘They know exactly how to manipulate the Rainy Wanderer.’
In relationships, hierarchy isn’t determined solely by skill or power.
A confident and composed person can stand tall even before someone superior.
But a timid, socially awkward person will always be anxious, even before those far beneath them.
Unfortunately, the Rainy Wanderer was a prime example of the latter.
The wild-haired man sighed deeply.
“Fine. I understand. We’ll forgive you for abandoning us and taking on new disciples. We won’t even hold it against you for not apologizing right away. But if you feel any remorse, let us stay here. It’s not a difficult request.”
Tang Mu-jin watched the Rainy Wanderer’s former disciples with a skeptical eye.
He understood their plight, but their attitude was grating.
As Tang Mu-jin and Hyun Gong scanned the area, they noticed two onlookers nearby, whispering with displeased expressions.
Sensing they might know something, Tang Mu-jin and Hyun Gong approached them.
“Those guys… they seem to have caused some trouble. Why are they acting so entitled?”
Tang Mu-jin interjected.
“Excuse me, do you know something about them?”
The onlookers recognized Tang Mu-jin and seemed eager to share.
“Those scoundrels were quite notorious back in their hometown… in the Guangxi region.”
“Notorious?”
“Not for their skills, but for their bad reputation. They were involved in all sorts of unsavory activities.”
“Are they ruffians?”
“Ruffians? That’s putting it mildly. They harassed women, committed assaults, and there were even rumors of murder.”
“Hmm.”
“Judging by their insistence on staying here, they must have caused trouble they can’t easily escape from. They’re likely trying to hide under the protection of the Tang Manor and the Rainy Wanderer. Listen, Yi Ryong.”
“Yes?”
“Make sure to inform the head of the Tang Manor. It’s best not to let them in. I guarantee it.”
It’s rare to speak with such certainty about others, indicating just how unsavory these individuals were.
However, it wasn’t the right moment for Tang Mu-jin to intervene in the matter between the Rainy Wanderer and his former disciples. That was for the Rainy Wanderer to resolve.
As the Rainy Wanderer hesitated, a booming voice rang out from the crowd.
“Rainy Wanderer, do you know why you’re so flustered right now?”
All eyes turned to the source of the voice.
A monk with ashen skin, a head taller than most, stood there. It was the Three-Eyed Buddha.
The Rainy Wanderer didn’t respond, but the Three-Eyed Buddha continued.
“Those guys are demanding an apology, but you’re not even sure if you should be apologizing. Isn’t that right?”
“Well, brother, I did wrong them, and I should settle this.”
“Ha!”
The Three-Eyed Buddha began to walk slowly toward the platform.
No one dared to block his path, so the crowd parted to let him through.
“Listen. Settling a score isn’t just about words. You’re still a man of the dark path, and when the hour turns, you’ll be a new person. You’ve lived unlike a man of the dark path until now, so why not resolve this one last time in a way befitting one?”
“A way befitting a man of the dark path?”
The Three-Eyed Buddha gestured toward the Rainy Wanderer’s sword.
“One swing of that sword at your waist, and the matter will be settled. No need for apologies. What’s there to hesitate about?”
The Rainy Wanderer still hesitated.
The Three-Eyed Buddha wore a peculiar expression, a mix of pity and frustration.
He pressed his large hands against his temples and spoke softly.
“Brother, it may not be the way of the dark path, but shall I show you how a man of the demonic sect resolves things?”
The Three-Eyed Buddha crouched, then leaped onto the platform with surprising agility for his massive frame.
His enormous hand shot toward the Rainy Wanderer’s three former disciples.
Though the gesture was filled with lethal intent, the three men didn’t even realize they were being attacked.
This was the infamous Three-Eyed Buddha. Unlike the Rainy Wanderer, whose reputation was marred by misunderstandings, the Three-Eyed Buddha was a true master of the demonic sect.
Even top martial artists struggled to survive his attacks, let alone these lowly thugs.
In a split second, their lives were at risk.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out.
The Three-Eyed Buddha’s hand was stopped by a sword, preventing him from crushing the three men’s heads.
The Rainy Wanderer had instinctively swung his sword to block the attack.