Episode 243: The Meeting at Mount Wudang

“Hey, you just couldn’t resist, could you… No, never mind.”

Dang Mujin started to scold Namgung Myung but quickly regained his composure after a couple of breaths. It was as if he had subconsciously anticipated such a situation might arise.

To Dang Mujin, it was as natural as the sun rising and setting that his somewhat reckless friends would get into trouble. It was only a matter of when and what kind of trouble.

He had no intention of nagging. Namgung Myung, who had been kicked out of his house for his kleptomania, still hadn’t learned his lesson and continued to carve out his own peculiar path. A bit of scolding wouldn’t change his habits.

Instead, Dang Mujin focused on a practical solution.

“Before this gets out of hand, return it while you still can.”

But Namgung Myung shook his head.

“No, let’s wait a bit. I plan to hold onto it for now.”

“Wait for what? You enjoy the thrill and satisfaction of stealing, right? Once you’ve had your fun, you should return it.”

“I’ve returned things before because they weren’t valuable to me. But this sword is different. Besides, I haven’t fully enjoyed it yet.”

“You haven’t enjoyed it? Didn’t you already succeed in stealing it without getting caught?”

Namgung Myung replied solemnly to Dang Mujin’s question.

“A true thief’s work isn’t complete until the victim realizes they’ve been robbed. The owner must recognize their loss and feel the defeat.”

Namgung Myung laid out his peculiar philosophy. Why he considered thievery a competition was beyond Dang Mujin’s understanding.

Of course, Dang Mujin didn’t feel the need to try to understand Namgung Myung’s mindset.

In any case, Namgung Myung’s point was simple. He might return the sword, but only after the leader of the Zhongnan Sect realized it was missing.

Dang Mujin pondered for a moment.

“Will the Zhongnan Sect suspect us?”

The timing was indeed suspicious. However, the only connection between their group and the Zhongnan Sect was that they had heard about the leader being there and had returned. They hadn’t even set foot inside the main gate. It was a situation that was a bit too subtle to arouse suspicion.

Considering the status of Young Heo-ja and Hyang Baek-sa-tae, the chances of them being suspected were low.

Suddenly, a thought struck him.

“Namgung Myung, where did you get that?”

“Obviously, from the Zhongnan Sect.”

“I mean, where exactly in the Zhongnan Sect?”

“There was a cleverly hidden box in the innermost part of the leader’s room, so I opened it.”

Even the Taoists of the Zhongnan Sect wouldn’t have free access to the leader’s room, let alone open a box hidden by the leader.

In other words, the chances of the sword being discovered missing before the leader returned were slim. This meant the martial artists of the Zhongnan Sect wouldn’t be able to pinpoint when the sword disappeared, reducing the likelihood of suspicion.

Dang Mujin let out a sigh of relief. Now, he was genuinely curious about the sword itself.

“So, what kind of sword is it? If it was hidden like that, it must be something special.”

“Take a look.”

Namgung Myung drew the sword from its scabbard. It was an intriguing sword. By Dang Mujin’s standards, the scabbard and hilt were old and poorly made. However, the blade was different. It gleamed as if it had been forged just yesterday, and its craftsmanship was quite decent.

“Anyone would think the blade was newly made. But the blade is older, and the hilt and scabbard were replaced later.”

As Dang Mujin examined the sword, he noticed small characters engraved on the side of the blade: “The Sword of Yeom.”

Dang Mujin’s eyes widened. The craftsmanship was one thing, but the name Yeom piqued his interest.

“Yeom? Isn’t that the real name of the Sword Immortal? Is this the sword of Sunyangja?”

“That’s why the leader of the Zhongnan Sect treasured it so much.”

Namgung Myung, despite having stolen the sword, seemed to take pride in his accomplishment.

Sunyangja, or Ye Dongbin, was one of the most famous immortals in Taoism. Known as the Sword Immortal, he was said to have achieved immortality through his mastery of the sword. His influence was so profound that many Taoists who pursued immortality practiced swordsmanship.

Dang Mujin handed the sword back to Namgung Myung and spoke.

“Just to be clear, you’re not planning to brandish that sword in front of people, are you?”

“Of course not. The moment I do, I’m socially done for.”

“Good. Just remember, if you get caught, you’re on your own. Got it?”

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

Namgung Myung grinned and tucked the sword back into his pack.

Three days later, the group of eight arrived near Mount Wudang. Seven of them headed straight for the Wudang Sect, but Namgung Myung was an exception. He had mentioned he was only traveling with them because their paths overlapped, as he had personal business to attend to, so he stayed in the village at the foot of the mountain.

This was fortunate in many ways. If Namgung Myung had tried to enter the Wudang Sect, he might have been caught with the Sword of Yeom while unpacking at the Haegumji.

As they ascended the mountain, Hyun Gong couldn’t hide his anxiety. Normally, Dang Mujin would have ignored it, but a few days ago, Namgung Myung had caused a major incident with a similar demeanor. Dang Mujin discreetly sent a message.

• Hyun Gong, why are you so tense?

• Do you think Young Bo-jin will expel me again?

• No way. It’s been quite a while since you left Mount Wudang. Unless they plan to ban you for life, they’ll probably welcome you back.

Hyun Gong’s eyes trembled with unease, seemingly more anxious after Dang Mujin’s words.

Soon, Haegumji came into view. The Taoists guarding it recognized Hyun Gong among the group.

Contrary to Hyun Gong’s fears, the Taoists didn’t expel him. Instead, they warmly welcomed him back after a long absence.

“Well, look who it is. Hyun Gong! It’s been a while. Is your journey over?”

“Hyun Gong! How long has it been since you left Mount Wudang?”

It seemed the Taoists were unaware that Young Bo-jin had expelled Hyun Gong. Then again, Young Bo-jin didn’t seem like the type to gossip about such matters.

While Hyun Gong’s martial prowess might be superior, the Taoists guarding Haegumji held higher ranks.

Hyun Gong respectfully answered the elders of the sect.

“I left Mount Wudang in the spring three years ago, so it’s been about three and a half years.”

“You must have gained a lot of experience. You seem much more mature now. It’s good to see.”

Dang Mujin inwardly clicked his tongue. Mature? The Wudang Sect’s Taoists seemed to have a poor eye for judging people.

Five of the seven laid down their weapons at Haegumji. Hong Geolgae’s weapon wasn’t a sword, so he didn’t need to, and Hyun Gong, being a Taoist of the Wudang Sect, had no issue carrying his sword.

However, Young Heo-ja and Hyang Baek-sa-tae seemed displeased with the situation.

Forcing a martial artist to lay down their sword was a request that didn’t sit well with them.

Young Heo-ja and Hyang Baek-sa-tae sighed deeply but didn’t protest.

Young Heo-ja couldn’t protest since he was the one who suggested the meeting, and Hyang Baek-sa-tae couldn’t protest because Young Heo-ja remained silent.

The group emptied their minds and leisurely entered the grounds.

It was a full autumn. Despite being in the mountains, it wasn’t humid, and the breeze was refreshing.

“Looks like winter might come early this year.”

Though there were about ten days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Wudang Sect’s grounds were bustling with people.

It seemed like half of them were Taoists of the Wudang Sect, and the other half were non-Taoists.

The non-Taoists wore a variety of outfits, having gathered from all over the martial world.

Leaders of large sects or clans, heads of families, and prominent figures.

And among these notable individuals were leaders of mid-sized sects eager to make their voices heard.

They were all busy gauging each other, but back in their hometowns, they likely carried themselves with considerable pride.

As the group appeared, the crowd’s attention naturally focused on Young Heo-ja and Hyang Baek-sa-tae.

Even those unfamiliar with their faces could easily guess their identities from Young Heo-ja’s Taoist robe and Hyang Baek-sa-tae’s monk’s robe. Eun Seon-rim and Jin Hae-do stood close by their sides.

The crowd murmured.

“Is that Young Heo-ja of the Cheongseong Sect and Hyang Baek-sa-tae of the Amipa Sect? Two giants moving together.”

Following this, the crowd’s gaze fell on Dang Mujin’s group.

The interest from the younger martial artists was particularly intense, as if they were trying to gauge the group’s level.

At least Hyun Gong, wearing the Wudang Sect’s robe, didn’t attract much attention.

However, Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae stood out. A young martial artist not following a senior? That was unusual.

The young martial artists whispered among themselves.

“Who are those guys?”

“I recognize the Wudang Sect’s Taoist. I’ve seen him before.”

“What about the other two?”

“I have no idea. One seems to be from the Beggars’ Sect, but the other one is a complete mystery. Maybe he’s just tagging along?”

“No way. They wouldn’t bring someone clueless all the way here. Judging by his stride, he doesn’t seem like just anyone…”

Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae, not wanting to draw attention, subtly moved behind Hyun Gong.

However, their attempt to avoid notice was quickly thwarted.

Two figures emerged from the crowd, parting the sea of people as they approached.

It was Yujin Gwang, the renowned swordmaster of Jeomchang Sect, and Geolseon of the Beggars’ Sect.

Yujin Gwang quickly spotted Dang Mujin and approached with haste, offering a respectful bow to Yeong Heoja and Hyang Baeksa Tae.

“Greetings. I am Yujin Gwang of the Jeomchang Sect.”

“Ah, the new head of Jeomchang Sect. And Geolseon, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Hmm. It’s been some time indeed.”

It seemed Yujin Gwang had swiftly ascended to the position of sect leader. After all, who could keep someone of his caliber as a subordinate? When a junior surpasses their senior in skill, the senior has little choice but to step aside.

Hyang Baeksa Tae’s expression darkened slightly as he regarded Yujin Gwang. He had thought it understandable for Yujin Gwang to lag slightly behind other leaders due to his youth, but here he was, having already surpassed the pinnacle at just over forty.

Yujin Gwang, after greeting Hyang Baeksa Tae and Yeong Heoja, turned his attention to Dang Mujin and his companions.

“Hey, it’s been ages! How have you been, Dang Mujin?”

“Ah, yes. Thanks to you, I’ve been well.”

Meanwhile, Geolseon sidled up to Hong Geolgae and began a conversation.

“Hong Jusan, have you made any progress?”

“I’ve been diligent in my training, but I’m not sure if it meets your expectations.”

“That’s more than adequate. You’ve overcome a significant hurdle.”

With two masters of such renown in one place, the crowd’s attention was inevitable. Any hope of keeping a low profile was dashed.

To make matters worse, some in the crowd began to recognize Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae by name.

“Dang Mujin… the Dragon of Righteousness. And next to him, that’s Hong Jusan of the Beggars’ Sect.”

“What? Hong Jusan? The one who shouts the name of his techniques as he uses them?”

“That’s right.”

As the whispers spread, Hong Geolgae’s expression turned grim. Shaking off a nickname once it stuck was no easy feat. Like the Blood Rain Guest who had to gather followers to shed his old moniker, Hong Geolgae pondered if he needed to do the same.

Just then, a Taoist from the Wudang Sect appeared to guide the group.

“Please, follow me to the reception hall.”

While the others followed the Taoist’s lead, Hyun Gong made his way directly to Yeong Bojin.

Hyun Gong’s heart raced. He feared Yeong Bojin might dismiss him with a disapproving look the moment they met.

‘But I have to go.’

Hyun Gong soon arrived at Hyuncheondang, the residence of Yeong Bojin, the head of the Wudang Sect.

As he stood cautiously before the sliding door, Yeong Bojin’s voice called out as if expecting him.

“A welcome guest has arrived. Come in.”

Hyun Gong opened the door and approached Yeong Bojin with small, quick steps.

Yeong Bojin sat there, unchanged from three years ago, as if time had passed him by.

Hyun Gong was tense, unsure of what to expect.

Yet, Yeong Bojin greeted him warmly.

“I thought it was about time you returned. You seem to have gained much experience.”

“Yes. I’ve been through a lot since leaving Wudang Mountain, and I’ve made some progress along the way.”

Hyun Gong replied lightly, but Yeong Bojin seemed genuinely interested.

“Progress, you say. What kind of progress?”

“Well…”

Though he had improved since leaving Wudang Mountain, he felt it wasn’t enough to boast about. It seemed inadequate to call it an achievement.

Hyun Gong considered giving a vague answer, but Yeong Bojin’s gaze was sharp beneath his gentle demeanor.

’…I’m doomed.’

Hyun Gong had been exiled from Wudang for making promises he couldn’t keep, and now he had made the same mistake again.

If he couldn’t show Yeong Bojin anything, it would reveal that he had made no real progress, either in martial arts or character.

Would Yeong Bojin be satisfied with Hyun Gong’s slight improvement in skill?

Hyun Gong doubted it. Even if he wasn’t exiled again, he felt he would be distanced from the position of the next sect leader.

The position of sect leader required more than just martial prowess.

Having already spoken, there was no taking it back. Hyun Gong fumbled for words.

“I’ve only recently gained some insight, so I’m embarrassed to show it now. I’ll present it once I’ve fully grasped it.”

“How long will that take?”

”…I should be able to show you by the end of the meeting.”

“I look forward to it.”

Hyun Gong bowed and retreated from Hyuncheondang, his shoulders heavy with worry.

Yeong Bojin watched him leave, deep in thought.

‘That boy only seems to accomplish something when under pressure.’

Yeong Bojin smiled mischievously, curious to see what Hyun Gong would achieve.