Episode 244: The Wudang Mountain Meeting
Hyun Gong’s steps felt unbearably heavy as he left the Hyuncheon Hall.
“What kind of achievement do they expect from me?”
Nothing came to mind. The few ideas that did surface seemed vague and insufficient.
After much deliberation, Hyun Gong returned to the guest hall where Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae were waiting.
“Maybe if I’m lucky, Tang Mujin or Hong Geolgae might come up with a decent solution. They’re both a bit lacking, but sometimes they can be surprisingly helpful…”
Hyun Gong gathered Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae and recounted everything that had happened at the Hyuncheon Hall without holding back.
Hong Geolgae, sprawled on the floor, responded without changing his position.
“Is there really a clever solution? Just train harder from now on.”
It was a rather disappointing answer, but Hyun Gong wasn’t too let down. It was exactly the kind of response he expected from Hong Geolgae.
“There are ten days until the meeting, and no matter how long it lasts, it won’t go beyond five days. What difference will a little over two weeks of training make?”
Unless he had been slacking off, Hyun Gong was already quite diligent in his training. The odds of achieving something extraordinary in just over two weeks were slim.
Since surpassing the pinnacle at a young age, Hyun Gong had never experienced explosive progress through training. He had only made steady, incremental improvements. The next two weeks would likely be no different.
Hong Geolgae replied nonchalantly.
“In my experience, a life-and-death duel always brings improvement.”
“That’s true.”
“Want to have a proper sparring match this time?”
“Sparring?”
Hyun Gong glanced at Hong Geolgae and replied.
“I doubt it would be of much help to me.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a life-and-death duel with only your life on the line. How could that benefit me?”
Hong Geolgae pondered Hyun Gong’s words for a moment, and as soon as he understood, he grabbed his staff.
“Oh, I see. You’re the type who needs to see a coffin to shed tears.”
Just as Hong Geolgae was about to launch into a tirade, Tang Mujin intervened.
“You don’t have to show Elder Youngbo only your martial arts. Why not demonstrate achievements outside of martial arts? Like networking or interpersonal skills. Those are important for becoming a sect leader, right?”
It wasn’t a particularly groundbreaking solution, but it was slightly better than Hong Geolgae’s suggestion.
Yet, unlike when he dismissed Hong Geolgae, Hyun Gong found it strangely difficult to speak.
At the same time, he felt a dizzying sensation he couldn’t quite understand.
Forcing his reluctant mouth to open, Hyun Gong replied.
“That’s not enough to call an achievement. Martial arts are still the best option.”
“Raising your martial prowess immediately is unrealistic. Besides, Elder Youngbo didn’t send you away from Wudang Mountain because of your martial arts, but because of other issues. Maybe the answer lies outside of martial arts.”
Just as Hyun Gong was about to refute Tang Mujin’s argument, he experienced a peculiar moment unlike any he’d ever encountered.
Hyun Gong intended to politely decline Tang Mujin’s suggestion and ask for help in finding another solution.
But as if possessed, his mouth uttered something entirely different.
“Now that you mention it, that sounds intriguing. Let’s do that.”
Hyun Gong was startled by the bizarre phenomenon and froze.
Tang Mujin noticed Hyun Gong’s tension.
“What’s wrong, Hyun Gong? Why the sudden change?”
“Nothing. It’s just that hearing a good idea gave me a lot to think about.”
This response, too, wasn’t what Hyun Gong had intended to say.
Hyun Gong was thoroughly bewildered by the unprecedented experience. It felt as if control of his body had been handed over to someone else.
But the strangest part came afterward.
It was as if a second consciousness, a memory, seeped into Hyun Gong’s mind.
A memory that was his, yet not his.
Perhaps “seeped” wasn’t the right word. It was more like two separate entities merging into one. Hyun Gong couldn’t tell which was real and which was false.
Both memories belonged to Hyun Gong.
As the memories of two simultaneous judgments intertwined, Hyun Gong understood perfectly why he hadn’t rejected Tang Mujin’s suggestion.
“If things go wrong and I get expelled from the Wudang Sect, the only place I can rely on is the Tang family. I should at least pretend to respect Tang Mujin’s opinion.”
In other words, it was Hyun Gong’s instinct for self-preservation and stability whispering to him. The judgment not to defy Tang Mujin’s opinion.
Hyun Gong carefully evaluated the two judgments.
The memory of wanting to refute Tang Mujin. And the memory of wanting to accept Tang Mujin’s suggestion.
Rejecting Tang Mujin’s proposal didn’t seem likely to yield a brilliant solution.
However, accepting Tang Mujin’s suggestion could lead to some progress, however minor. It could also leave a favorable impression on Tang Mujin.
Objectively speaking, accepting Tang Mujin’s proposal was the more prudent decision.
The answer he had unconsciously given was the correct one.
Or perhaps it wasn’t even an unconscious decision. Both memories and judgments were the result of reason, not instinct.
It wasn’t a crude level of judgment and action, like acting out of habit while thinking of something else.
“Anyway, the response was wise. I’ll follow Tang Mujin’s suggestion for now.”
Having decided on his course of action, Hyun Gong pondered what had just happened.
But even though not much time had passed, the strange experience was already fading like mist.
Like a vivid dream that becomes hazy by midday.
Hyun Gong’s certainty wavered slightly.
“Was it just my imagination? Well, I am twice as smart as most people, so it’s not surprising if I considered more than others unconsciously.”
Tang Mujin asked again, puzzled.
“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”
“Uh… yeah. Nothing’s wrong. I should get moving.”
Hyun Gong scratched the back of his head and walked out of the guest hall.
Hong Geolgae focused on his breathing exercises in the guest hall, while Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong strolled through the Wudang Sect grounds.
The grounds were bustling with people. There was no reason for martial artists who had entered the renowned Wudang Sect to stay cooped up indoors.
Tang Mujin asked, “So, what’s your plan now?”
“The start of building relationships is getting to know people’s faces and talking to them. I need to make acquaintances first.”
They say even a young pup acts bold in its own neighborhood.
With confident strides, Hyun Gong walked through the Wudang Sect grounds, and Tang Mujin followed, curious to see what Hyun Gong would do.
Soon, they noticed a young man sitting alone, not mingling with others.
He was clearly a promising talent from somewhere, but Tang Mujin couldn’t place his face.
Hyun Gong, however, was different. He approached the young man and spoke.
“You must be from the Murong family.”
“What? Do you know me?”
The young man replied, startled.
It seemed he thought he knew Hyun Gong, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.
Hyun Gong continued the conversation smoothly.
“It’s our first meeting. But the Murong family’s reputation is well-known in the martial world, so it wasn’t hard to guess where you’re from just by your presence.”
The young man seemed pleased that someone had approached him during a lonely moment. However, he wasn’t as adept at continuing the conversation as Hyun Gong.
“Thank you. But I’m not well-versed enough to know who you are. Oh, I’m Murong Bu.”
“My name isn’t widely known, so it’s natural you don’t know me. I’m Hyun Gong of the Wudang Sect, and my friend here is Tang Mujin of the Tang family.”
“The Rising Dragon Sword and the Righteous Dragon!”
Murong Bu was taken aback.
He looked as if he couldn’t believe that a well-known young talent had recognized him and approached him.
With a calm and warm expression, Hyun Gong said to Murong Bu, “I’ve only heard of the Murong family’s reputation through others, so I don’t know much. Would you mind if we chatted for a bit?”
“Of course!”
Hyun Gong listened to Murong Bu’s stories, nodding along.
After about half an hour, Hyun Gong and Murong Bu were as close as childhood friends.
“Brother Murong, I have some matters to attend to now. Let’s talk more later.”
“Yes, yes!”
Tang Mujin watched in awe as Hyun Gong quickly established a connection with the Murong family.
“How did you know he was from the Murong family? Have you been there?”
“No, of course not. But I’ve heard things.”
Hyun Gong continued nonchalantly.
“The Murong family is in the far northeast, in Liaoning, unlike typical martial sects in the central plains. It’s on the outskirts, not even within the sphere of the orthodox sects. So there are differences.”
“What kind of differences?”
“They resemble the northern barbarians in appearance and speech. Their features are small and delicate. And their clothing is different too.”
Listening to the explanation, Tang Mujin recalled that Murong Bu’s features did seem slightly different from the average person.
However, to Tang Mujin, Murong Bu’s clothing didn’t seem any different from anyone else’s.
“What’s different about their clothing?”
“I’ve heard Liaoning is colder than this region. Even in autumn, their fabric is thicker, and the cuffs and hems are narrower. It’s probably a habit to keep the cold wind out.”
Tang Mujin was inwardly impressed.
Hyun Gong’s quick thinking surpassed that of ordinary people. Though he couldn’t help but think that such a sharp mind was being used in rather peculiar ways.
There were several people who, like the members of the Moyong family, found themselves unable to blend in with the others, remaining on the fringes.
This was the result of a mix of the wariness typical of those in unfamiliar places, the embarrassment of approaching others first, and the strong pride characteristic of martial artists.
Hyun Gong approached these isolated individuals, engaging them in conversation, subtly praising them, and gradually building rapport. Eventually, he gathered them all in one place.
“I’ll be off now. Oh, by the way, Moyong and Hong are over there. I’m sure you’ll find you have a lot in common with Gong. Why not have a chat? Mention my name, and they’ll be glad to see you.”
“Ah, understood.”
While the elders of each family and sect were busy conversing among themselves, paying little attention to the younger generation, Hyun Gong began to recruit the younger members from each sect.
Hyun Gong was their only point of connection. As such, they would constantly be reminded of him as their sole link.
His method of expanding influence was so subtle and clever that Tang Mujin couldn’t help but be impressed.
When Hyun Gong had gathered about five of these younger members, a tense atmosphere began to form.
Unlike others who maintained a semblance of politeness, someone was raising their voice. It wasn’t quite shouting, but the discomfort was clear in their tone.
The real issue was that the voice was coming from the direction where Hyun Gong had gathered the people.
“Let’s go check it out!”
Sure enough, two of the people Hyun Gong had brought together were growling at each other. It was Moyong Bu from the Moyong family, whom Hyun Gong had first befriended, and Ak Sogun from the Shandong Ak family, whom he had spoken to last.
“The Moyong family is like bats, siding with the unorthodox when they’re strong and with the orthodox when they have the upper hand. What are you really doing here?”
“Spouting such nonsense. Aren’t you ashamed? If that’s the Ak family’s way, I have nothing more to say.”
“Nonsense? Everyone knows how the Moyong family aided the unorthodox in the last war and got caught and executed. Who doesn’t know that?”
“That person was a criminal who fled from the Moyong family long ago. How can you blame the family for his actions?”
“Your excuses are as predictable as ever!”
Moyong Bu reached for his waist, but finding no sword hilt, he clenched his fist tightly.
If not for the rule against weapons in the area, he would have drawn his weapon by now.
It’s common for martial artists to clash when gathered. Everyone expected a conflict to arise. After all, what else do the proud martial artists of the orthodox sects have but their pride?
The problem was twofold: Hyun Gong had brought them together, and there were quite a few eyes watching the confrontation.
To make matters worse, the heads of the Moyong and Ak families were not present.
The elders of other sects and families chose to watch rather than intervene, knowing that stepping in would likely not end well.
In short, the only person who could resolve this situation was Hyun Gong.
Tang Mujin stepped back, curious to see how Hyun Gong would handle it.
“Stop this at once!”
Hyun Gong’s approach was straightforward.
He stepped between them, separating the two.
The challenge was what came next.
Hyun Gong needed to calm one of them first.
Martial artists are competitive by nature, and even a small gesture can be seen as a victory.
Mediators usually try to calm the more powerful or influential person first.
All eyes were on Hyun Gong.
Who would he calm first?
Which did the Wudang sect value more, the Shandong Ak family or the Moyong family?
Hyun Gong’s mind raced.
Even for Hyun Gong, choosing a side between the Shandong Ak family and the Moyong family was no easy task.
“I’ve heard the Moyong family is significantly more influential than the Shandong Ak family.”
“But the Moyong family is too far away. Who knows how helpful they’ll be in the future? There’s a reason they haven’t fully integrated into the central martial world.”
“Still, siding with the Shandong Ak family is tricky. If a great master emerges, it’s more likely to be from the Moyong family.”
“However, the Shandong Ak family is known for their fiery tempers. If they’re upset, they’ll surely be difficult in future meetings.”
He couldn’t choose a side.
Once again, Hyun Gong felt a familiar dizziness. A sensation he was somewhat used to, yet still strange. A peculiar feeling as if his energy was slightly off balance.
In a state of semi-consciousness, Hyun Gong sent a telepathic message without leaning towards either side.
As Hyun Gong sent the message, both Moyong Bu and Ak Sogun broke into satisfied smiles.
Amazingly, Hyun Gong’s message had reached both sides simultaneously.
Both Moyong Bu and Ak Sogun scoffed and stepped back, but Hyun Gong remained rooted to the spot for quite some time.