Chapter 254: The Mysterious Encounter
Meng Sang-ryang, a martial artist from the Gongdong Sect, was tasked with an important, albeit mundane, mission. Alongside a fellow sect member, he was to fetch water from a nearby stream.
Despite the importance of the task, it was far from glamorous. The job involved lugging heavy buckets of water back and forth between the stream and the sect, a task that couldn’t be avoided even in these times of restricted movement.
“Damn it,” Meng Sang-ryang muttered to himself.
Fetching water was one of his least favorite chores. Even empty, the buckets were cumbersome, and once filled, they felt heavier than carrying a person on his back. The sloshing water made the task even more challenging, requiring him to brace his shoulders and back with every step.
Though Meng Sang-ryang was stronger than the average person, thanks to his martial arts training, the repetitive trips left him drenched in sweat. To make matters worse, the afternoon water carriers were all senior to him, meaning they would likely offload their duties onto him.
“Why can’t those who need the water fetch it themselves?” he grumbled internally.
He and his companion walked in silence, knowing that any conversation would likely devolve into complaints and arguments.
“If only there was a rule that those who shirk water duty should be beaten senseless,” he thought bitterly.
After several trips, Meng Sang-ryang noticed a shadowy figure emerging from the forest. The man was dressed in black, with only his eyes visible. Despite the disguise, Meng Sang-ryang could sense the man’s formidable martial prowess.
In the martial world, recognizing an opponent’s strength is crucial for survival, and this man exuded an aura of a master.
Realizing the potential danger of ignoring such a presence, Meng Sang-ryang and his companion quickly set down their buckets and bowed.
“Greetings!” they called out.
The man in black approached with a graceful, almost ethereal step, stopping in front of Meng Sang-ryang.
Meng Sang-ryang tensed, unsure of the man’s intentions. But instead of attacking, the stranger picked up one of the water buckets and slung it over his shoulder.
“Uh…!” Meng Sang-ryang was taken aback, fearing the man was playing a cruel joke.
If the bucket broke, Meng Sang-ryang would surely face reprimand. But the man spoke in a surprisingly kind voice.
“I had nothing better to do, so I thought I’d help you out.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re drenched in sweat and your steps are heavy. Just follow me and enjoy the breeze.”
Meng Sang-ryang couldn’t tell if the man was serious or joking, but he had no choice but to comply. As he followed, he felt his spirits lift, his body cooling as the sweat dried.
As they walked, the man in black asked, “I’ve heard some of the Zhongnan Sect’s martial artists have been seen in the nearby village. Is there trouble?”
“Uh, no, not really. I heard there’s a thief they’re trying to catch. It doesn’t seem to involve us.”
“Us?”
The man in black prompted, and Meng Sang-ryang elaborated.
“Well, I’m still getting used to the name Gongdong Sect. You know how those who were so proud of the name are now… It’s a bit unsettling.”
“Hmm.”
The man nodded, setting the bucket down.
‘Is that all he’s willing to help with?’ Meng Sang-ryang wondered, preparing to pick up the bucket again.
But as he bent down, he noticed something odd. There were unfamiliar feet beside the man in black’s.
‘Who are they?’
Before he could react, a strong hand clamped over his mouth from behind.
Realizing something was amiss, Meng Sang-ryang struggled, glancing at his companion who was similarly restrained.
“Mmph, mmph!”
“Quiet, you fool!”
A hand pressed a pressure point, and Meng Sang-ryang and his companion lost consciousness, collapsing to the ground.
Namgung Myung removed his mask and spoke.
“You heard them, right? They’re definitely from the Gongdong Sect.”
“Yeah, it’s confirmed now.”
Thanks to Namgung Myung’s efforts, Tang Mujin’s group had successfully captured two members of the Gongdong Sect, confirming their suspicions about the sect’s allegiance.
With their mission accomplished, they discreetly returned to the forge with their captives.
Back at the forge, the group waited for nightfall. As darkness settled, martial artists from the orthodox sects began to appear throughout the town.
They weren’t hoping to catch the elusive thief, but rather to gather any information they could.
Tang Mujin watched from the forge, waiting for the right moment. Soon, two martial artists from the Zhongnan Sect approached.
Having spoken with them before, Tang Mujin knew they were a good starting point for conversation.
“Good evening,” he greeted them.
“Ah, the young man from the forge. What brings you here?”
“I have something important to discuss.”
The Zhongnan Sect members chuckled, skeptical of what a young blacksmith could offer.
But as Namgung Myung, Hong Geolgae, and Hyun Gong appeared, draping their arms over the sect members’ shoulders, their expressions turned pale.
“Who… who are you?” they stammered.
The two martial artists were skilled, nearly at the level of first-rate fighters. Yet, they hadn’t noticed the young men until they were right beside them.
If these strangers had been hostile, they would have been dead already. Cold sweat trickled down their backs.
And that wasn’t all. Tang Mujin’s demeanor shifted dramatically.
He deftly disarmed one of the Zhongnan Sect members, inspecting the sword before returning it to its sheath.
The martial artist tried desperately to reclaim his weapon, but his hands never touched it during the entire exchange.
Faced with such overwhelming skill, the two were left breathless.
Naturally, their attitude became more respectful.
“Who… who are you?” they asked.
Tang Mujin replied with a serious expression.
“I’ve been keeping my identity hidden, but I mean no harm.”
“Who are you? How can someone so young possess such skill?”
“My name is Tang Mujin.”
The two martial artists searched their memories, recalling where they’d heard the name.
“Tang Mujin… Could it be, the Dragon of Medicine?”
While seasoned martial artists might not care for names and titles, novices often memorized the names of rising stars.
Tang Mujin answered calmly.
“Some do call me that.”
The Zhongnan Sect members were accustomed to carrying themselves with pride, not because of their overwhelming skill, but due to the prestige of their sect.
In contrast, Tang Mujin had earned his reputation through sheer ability, without any backing.
Meeting such a renowned figure was remarkable enough, but there was something else that caught their attention: the identities of the three men surrounding them.
One of the martial artists hesitantly asked, “And who are the others?”
Tang Mujin introduced them one by one.
“That one is Namgung Myung, the eldest son of the Sword Demon Namgung Jincheon. Next to him is Hyun Gong, the Rising Dragon Sword of the Wudang Sect. And the last one is…”
Hong Geolgae shot Tang Mujin a sharp look.
Tang Mujin took a step back and reintroduced him.
“This is Oh Gyeolgae, also known as Hong Jusan, the Deputy Chief of the Central Branch of the Beggars’ Sect. Friends often call him Hong Geolgae.”
“Hong Geolgae… Isn’t that the one known as the ‘Dog-Eared Beggar’?”
Hong Geolgae’s expression turned somber.
But reality is harsh. The peculiar nickname “Dog-Eared Beggar” clung to him like a stubborn stain.
For outsiders, titles like Deputy Chief of the Central Branch or Head of the Middle Capital Branch didn’t carry much weight. They were hard to remember, too.
The Zhongnan Sect members were thoroughly flustered. Tang Mujin’s companions were all formidable figures.
Suddenly, they found themselves surrounded by young powerhouses.
The two Taoist masters stood with utmost respect before the younger Tang Mujin.
“Is there a particular reason you’ve sought us out?”
Stepping forward on Tang Mujin’s behalf, Hyun Gong spoke.
“Are you aware of the recent meeting at Mount Wudang?”
“Yes, we are.”
“We attended as well. However, we found the Gongdong Sect suspicious and decided to stay in Pyeongryang County to investigate.”
“What do you mean by suspicious… Or do you need the help of the Jongnam Sect?”
Hyun Gong shook his head.
“Not quite. We’ve come to you because there’s something crucial we must convey to the Jongnam Sect. We heard you came to Pyeongryang County to track down Shintu’s whereabouts.”
“That’s correct.”
“Coincidentally, one of us has been tracking Shintu as well. This is my friend, Namgung Myung.”
As Hyun Gong gestured to Namgung Myung, he wore a much more serious expression than usual. To those unfamiliar with him, he seemed quite impressive.
“While Shintu was causing chaos across the martial world, my friend here was secretly following his trail. If anyone knows Shintu’s movements, it’s him.”
“Really? Have you discovered anything?”
“More than you might expect.”
The two Taoist masters’ faces lit up with unexpected fortune. If this matter resolved well, they might receive great rewards—perhaps a rare elixir or the chance to learn martial arts from a renowned master of the Jongnam Sect. Both were things they deeply desired.
“What have you found?”
“Namgung Myung, while tracking Shintu, managed to subdue two men dressed in black who seemed to be his henchmen.”
Hong Geolgae briefly disappeared into the forge and returned, dragging two men to the ground. Both were masked and clad in black, looking suspicious to anyone.
The two Taoist masters were overjoyed, nearly breathless with excitement.
“Oh, oh!”
Their exclamations were so loud that other martial artists from various sects, including the Huashan Sect, began to gather out of curiosity.
Hyun Gong continued smoothly, as if his tongue were oiled.
“Namgung Myung captured these henchmen after they received something from Shintu. Thanks to him, we recovered some precious manuals. Does anyone here recognize these?”
Hyun Gong pulled out the manuals from the black-clad men’s robes and showed them to the crowd. The titles were conveniently written on the covers.
The onlookers read the titles and responded.
“Huahopae Hongang? That must be from the Hwangbo family. Samjeon Cheolseon Kwon? I’m not sure where that’s from, but it’s not from the Jongnam Sect.”
“Nor is it from the Huashan Sect.”
Hyun Gong deliberately showed manuals from unrelated sects, avoiding the ones they were actually looking for. If they handed over the right items immediately, they might leave without getting involved further.
Yet, the martial artists from the righteous sects seemed thrilled with even this much information.
“Unfortunately, these aren’t ours, but this is a significant clue. We’ve found Shintu’s henchmen, so we must be close to Shintu himself. Did you see where he went?”
Hyun Gong’s expression darkened.
“That’s the problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“We caught them in Pyeongryang County, at Gongdong Mountain.”
The crowd gasped in unison.
“Does that mean… Shintu is part of the Gongdong Sect?”
“I’m not saying that definitively. The Gongdong Sect is a reputable sect, after all. But given the circumstances, we must consider all possibilities.”
Hyun Gong spoke in circles, but everyone understood his implication.
At that moment, the masked men on the ground began to writhe. It seemed their acupoints had been released.
Having overheard the conversation, the two masked men shouted loudly.
“Damn it! Those manuals aren’t ours! We didn’t steal anything!”
This was unexpected even for Tang Mujin’s group. It was a mishap due to Hong Geolgae’s inexperience with acupoint sealing.
However, Hyun Gong remained unfazed.
“Silence!”
He kicked them, his voice booming.
“How dare you lie to escape this moment, without repenting for your crimes!”
Despite writhing in pain from Hyun Gong’s kicks, they continued to protest.
“That’s nonsense! I’ve never seen those manuals!”
“How can you be so shameless, caught red-handed with stolen manuals while dressed in black and masked? The evidence is clear!”
“When did we… And when did we put on these damn black clothes?”
There was no need to argue further.
At Hyun Gong’s signal, Namgung Myung and Hong Geolgae rushed in to reseal their acupoints.
The two black-clad men fell unconscious again.
Yet, a seed of doubt had been planted in the hearts of the onlookers. Something about the masked men’s last words lingered in their minds.
One of the masked men was small and thin, while the other was plump. The thin man’s clothes were loose, and the plump man’s were too tight, as if they were wearing clothes meant for someone else.
Hyun Gong spoke calmly.
“There’s no need to listen to the words of villains.”
”···.”
But the doubt in their hearts was not easily dispelled.
Hyun Gong sighed deeply, then smiled faintly, a serene expression.
“I’m not a particularly great person, but I do have one thing to boast about. Thanks to the teachings of the Wudang Sect’s leader, I’ve never told a lie in my life. The elders of the Wudang Sect call me Hyun Gong of the True Word. I take more pride in that name than in the embarrassing nickname of the Rising Dragon Sword.”
“Hyun Gong of the True Word!”
Hyun Gong met their eyes with unwavering sincerity.
His gaze was so clear it seemed to illuminate the dim evening.
The crowd was captivated by Hyun Gong’s eyes.
‘Indeed, a man with such a gaze wouldn’t lie.’
Of course, one cannot fully trust a person’s innocence based solely on their gaze.
However, the presence of Tang Mujin, Namgung Myung, and Hong Geolgae lent credibility to Hyun Gong’s words.
If Hyun Gong were alone, he might have been suspected of lying.
But with three young heroes from different sects—Tang Family, Namgung Family, Beggars’ Sect, and Wudang Sect—standing by him, doubting Hyun Gong’s words was akin to accusing all four of conspiring to lie.
It was an implausible notion.
A Jongnam Sect master cleared his throat.
“Ahem! We never doubted you, so rest assured. Besides, there are two manuals here as evidence. The proof is undeniable.”
The crowd nodded in agreement with the Jongnam Sect master’s words.
Finally, the Jongnam Sect master lowered his voice and spoke to Tang Mujin’s group.
“But it would be rash for us to storm the Gongdong Sect and demand answers. Please wait a little. We’ll return to our sect and bring back those with sufficient authority.”
Hyun Gong nodded with satisfaction.
“Preparedness is key! Truly a Jongnam Sect master’s words. We’ll stay here and monitor the Gongdong Sect’s movements. Please return to your sects and spread the word. We need your help to uphold justice in the martial world.”
The masters of the Jongnam and Huashan Sects, along with other martial artists, wore determined expressions.
They were about to become part of a rare, significant event in martial history. They felt like they were becoming great figures for the first time.
The moment of conversing with young heroes was exhilarating, and they were eager to return to their sects with valuable information.
Each hurried back to their respective sects.
Meanwhile, Tang Mujin’s group lounged in a back room of the forge, eventually falling asleep.