Episode 274: Bloodstained

No matter what decision Jin-hae made, it was ultimately his own resolve.

Dang Mu-jin found it hard to accept Jin-hae’s extreme actions.

“You killed them just because they were from the Sapa sect? Jin-hae, do you even know who those people were?”

“Do I need to know in detail?”

For a moment, Dang Mu-jin was at a loss for words.

But he quickly raised his voice again. “What do you think a Sapa warrior is?”

“They’re the ones who raise their swords against the Jeongpa warriors.”

It wasn’t entirely wrong. There was always animosity between the Jeongpa and Sapa sects.

Yet, Dang Mu-jin couldn’t help but think of Jang Il-nam, the Blood Rain Guest.

A man who, simply because he was born south of the Yangtze with a talent for the sword, had to endure a life he never wanted.

Jang Il-nam spent most of his life as a Sapa warrior, yet he was more fitting as a Jeongpa martial artist than anyone present.

If Jin-hae had spoken to him even once, perhaps his attitude towards the Danghang Twin Lights would have been different.

Dang Mu-jin sighed deeply.

“Jin-hae, just as not all Jeongpa warriors are the same, not all Sapa warriors are alike. Don’t divide the world into two. Those guys, though a bit annoying, were accepted as members of the village in Pyeongri. They’re not the demons of malice you imagine.”

“I don’t disagree with you. But we’re in the midst of a war between the sects. We don’t have the luxury to consider such things.”

“You!”

A stubborn response. Just as Dang Mu-jin was about to retort, the leader of the Cheongseong sect stepped between them.

“Jin-hae, stand down immediately! Master Dang, I’ll make sure Jin-hae understands his mistake. Please, calm down for now.”

The leader, almost like a father figure, spoke with such respect that Dang Mu-jin couldn’t raise his voice any further.

He also saw the deep embarrassment on the leader’s face, an emotion that couldn’t be hidden.

It wasn’t just the leader. The Cheongseong sect members behind him were equally bewildered.

They had no intention of antagonizing Dang Mu-jin.

Everyone knew how favorable Yeongheo-ja was towards Dang Mu-jin and his family. Likewise, the Dang family was a good neighbor to the Cheongseong sect.

Yet, they could understand Jin-hae’s actions. It had only been a few days since they witnessed Yeongheo-ja’s death.

And it wasn’t just Yeongheo-ja. Over ten members of the Cheongseong sect had either died or been incapacitated by Sapa warriors at the recent battle at Gongdong.

Too many sacrifices to simply forget in such a short time.

The situation wasn’t much different for other sects. The members of the Jongnam sect, who had witnessed Ilsun-ja’s death, felt the same.

Hyeon-gong approached and stood beside Dang Mu-jin. He frowned slightly at Jin-hae, then spoke to Dang Mu-jin.

“This isn’t the time to argue. Let’s take a moment to cool our heads.”

Dang Mu-jin scratched his head and, led by Hyeon-gong, sat down with his friends and Yu Jin-gwang.

It was late.

As if mourning the death of the Danghang Twin Lights, the sound of insects grew louder.

The sun had already set, so they would have to spend the night near Pyeongri village.

Dang Mu-jin had a simple meal and lay down. But even with his eyes closed, he couldn’t shake the image of the Danghang Twin Lights’ bodies.

He knew he wouldn’t have a restful night.

Eventually, he got up, shaking off the drowsiness.

The next morning, the group left Pyeongri village.

Two small mounds remained, watching the departing group.

As they moved towards Mount Gireon, the leader approached Dang Mu-jin.

“I apologize for yesterday.”

“It’s fine. There’s no need for you to apologize.”

Dang Mu-jin’s voice was calm.

A night’s rest had allowed him to gather his thoughts and emotions.

What filled his heart now wasn’t anger or frustration, but questions.

“May I ask you something?”

“If it’s something I can answer, I’ll tell you anything.”

Dang Mu-jin thought for a moment before asking, “Was Jin-hae always this rough?”

“Not at all.”

Dang Mu-jin wasn’t meeting Jin-hae for the first time.

Last year, on their way to Mount Wudang, Dang Mu-jin and his group had traveled with Jin-hae and shared many conversations.

Back then, Dang Mu-jin had formed several impressions of Jin-hae.

The first was Jin-hae’s upright nature. Unlike Dang Mu-jin and his friends, who had their quirks, Jin-hae was straightforward.

But what stood out more was Jin-hae’s temperament. For a martial artist, he was rather gentle. It was worrisome whether he could ever coldly strike someone with a sword.

The leader hesitated before adding, “I think Jin-hae feels pressured.”

“You mean he’s trying to fill the void left by Yeongheo-ja?”

“Something like that. Jin-hae might not be the next leader, but he’s likely to be the one after.”

“But I can’t imagine Yeongheo-ja striking the Danghang Twin Lights in the back.”

Dang Mu-jin’s tone was a bit sharper than usual.

But the leader was relieved it was only that much. A more hot-tempered martial artist might have severed ties altogether.

“Of course, if Yeongheo-ja were alive, he wouldn’t have done that. But Jin-hae probably felt he had to.”

“Why?”

“A leader needs both skill and decisiveness. But Jin-hae lacks the former.”

Jin-hae wasn’t lagging behind his peers. In fact, he might be ahead of most, except for Dang Mu-jin and his friends.

But among the Cheongseong sect members present, he was far from the top.

He had only recently reached the pinnacle in the last battle, just a promising young talent.

The leader continued, “With overwhelming skill, you don’t need to be decisive in everything. You can handle most problems with your abilities, so there’s no need to be tense. But if someone lacking in skill shows weakness, problems arise.”

“I see.”

It was a rather cold assessment of a fellow sect member. That he had to bristle like a hedgehog due to his lack of skill.

“And there’s also resentment. Jin-hae trained under the leader for ten years. It must feel like losing a father.”

Dang Mu-jin recalled the winter he spent carrying the body of his fallen comrade, and the memories after burying him.

A time when he hated the world and wanted to burn it all down.

If a black-clad enemy had appeared before him then, would he have weighed their crimes?

Not at all. Dang Mu-jin didn’t know who those black-clad men were, nor did he care. Even now.

Namgung Myung, walking beside him, spoke up.

“Jin-hae is forcing himself to change. He’s trying to fit himself into the image he imagines, the future leader of the Cheongseong sect.”

Coming from Namgung Myung, it was even more convincing.

Among those present, Namgung Myung was likely the one who understood the pressure Jin-hae felt the most.

The leader nodded slowly in agreement.

“That might be the case. I’m worried Jin-hae might cause trouble for you all. If that happens, I hope you’ll be understanding.”

The leader expected Dang Mu-jin or Namgung Myung to respond with something like, “It’s fine. Everyone goes through such times, so don’t worry.”

But Namgung Myung’s response was slightly unexpected.

“It’s fine. If Jin-hae causes us trouble, we’ll just cause him even more trouble.”

”…What do you mean by that?”

“Leader, you know that Yeongheo-ja asked us to look after Jin-hae, right?”

“Yes.”

The leader had always been by Yeongheo-ja’s side and was his closest confidant.

It was only natural that he knew most of what Yeongheo-ja had discussed with Dang Mu-jin.

“We might ask you for a favor regarding Jin-hae soon. Please remember this conversation for that time.”

Neither the leader, Dang Mu-jin, nor Hyeon-gong fully understood what Namgung Myung meant.

The time Namgung Myung mentioned came sooner than expected.

After several days of travel, the group arrived at the foot of Mount Gireon, only to find the area unusually deserted.

However, they managed to find a lone house and asked the elderly resident some questions.

The old man shared a surprising story.

“They scattered?”

“Yes. They said there were dozens of them fleeing, but there’s no place on Mount Gireon to accommodate so many.”

Dang Mu-jin looked up at Mount Gireon. The mountains surrounding Sichuan were known for their height and ruggedness, and Mount Gireon was no exception.

The peaks stretched endlessly, each crowned with white snow. Even though winter had long passed, the snow remained.

Those peaks likely wouldn’t melt even in summer.

Contrary to what those living on flatlands or gentle hills might think, such high mountains aren’t easily climbed, even with strong legs.

The physical strain and biting cold are challenges, but the hidden cliffs and crevices beneath the snow pose even greater dangers. Stepping into one could mean certain death, even for a martial artist.

Even if one avoids nature’s traps, the challenges don’t end. People need food and water to survive.

In the high mountains, places to find water and food are extremely limited. Even if you do find some, there won’t be enough for a large group to gather and stay in one place, just as the old man had said.

Tang Mujin turned to the old man and asked, “Do you have any idea where the others might have hidden?”

The old man hesitated, glancing at Tang Mujin for a moment. Sensing the situation, Hyun Gong discreetly handed over a small piece of gold. The old man grinned and continued, “There’s a path inside Mount Gireon. It’s not marked, but whether you like it or not, you’ll end up following it. But catching those who’ve hidden in Mount Gireon won’t be easy.”

Hyun Gong, contemplating whether to retrieve the gold piece, asked, “Why is that?”

“There are more than just a couple of ways out of Mount Gireon. How could you possibly block all those paths?”

Just as Hyun Gong was about to reach for the gold again, the old man looked around the group and muttered, “Or maybe… is this enough? Are you planning to block the exits with just a few people?”

“We’ll need at least three or four,” Hyun Gong replied.

Of course, a handful of people couldn’t stop dozens of martial artists from escaping. But with a different approach, a solution emerged. By maintaining a reasonable distance, three or four people could track the fleeing martial artists.

“Let’s see… give me a moment,” the old man murmured, counting heads. After a brief pause, he nodded. “It might work. But eight or nine out of ten should stay outside the mountain. Is that acceptable?”

“It is,” Tang Mujin replied. There wasn’t much choice. They had to face the challenge head-on.

The leaders of the righteous martial artists gathered to select their team. If eight or nine stayed outside, about fifteen could enter Mount Gireon. The scattered martial artists of the unorthodox sect would be manageable if they chose the right people.

The plan was simple: fifteen would enter Mount Gireon to drive out the unorthodox martial artists, while those waiting outside would track any who escaped.

But there was another complication. The old man added, “Inside Mount Gireon, there are three main paths.”

“Three paths?” Tang Mujin asked.

“Three paths where you can find water and food. If you give up on those, there are countless other paths… but I doubt that’s what you’re after, right?”

“Correct.”

The situation had worsened. They would have to split the fifteen into three groups.

“Will that be okay?” someone asked.

“We have no choice,” Tang Mujin replied. “If it doesn’t work, we can always retreat and ask for help. But for now, we go in.”

The task was to select fifteen people to enter Mount Gireon and divide them into three groups.

Choosing the fifteen wasn’t difficult. Three from the Jeomchang Sect, four from Tang Mujin’s group, and eight from the Qingcheng, Huashan, Zhongnan, and Wudang sects were selected.

Now, they had to divide these fifteen into three groups.

Yoo Jin-gwang spoke first. “Three from the Jeomchang Sect will suffice.”

No one disagreed. Yoo Jin-gwang was the only supreme master present, and the two with him from Jeomchang were formidable as well.

Next, Tang Mujin said, “The four of us will move together.”

Gong Ryeong-ja and Seon Woo-ja nodded. It was only natural for those who had worked together for a long time to stick together. Tang Mujin’s group was also known for their exceptional skills.

Although Hong Geol-gae was slightly less skilled, among friends, his abilities were still impressive.

However, this didn’t mean Tang Mujin’s group was as reliable as the Jeomchang trio. Seon Woo-ja suggested, “There are still eight people left. Two should join you to balance the groups. Six each. How about that?”

Namgoong Myung, who had been silent, shook his head. “One will do.”

“Just one? Who will it be?” Seon Woo-ja asked, expecting Namgoong Myung to choose the most skilled from the Qingcheng, Huashan, or Zhongnan sects.

But Namgoong Myung chose differently. “I’ll go with Jin Hae.”

“Jin Hae? Are you sure?” Seon Woo-ja was surprised. Jin Hae was not among the top fighters, though his internal energy had increased through training.

Seon Woo-ja advised, “It’s fine if Jin Hae goes, but why not take one or two more?”

“No, it’s fine,” Namgoong Myung insisted firmly, leaving Seon Woo-ja to assume he had a plan.

Gong Ryeong-ja, however, was slightly uneasy and sent a private message to Namgoong Myung. - I hope nothing happens to Jin Hae.

Namgoong Myung replied, - Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.

• But you’re short on people. Wouldn’t it be better to take more, as Seon Woo-ja suggested?

• No, it’s better this way. It’s better for Jin Hae.

Namgoong Myung’s response was cryptic.

Tang Mujin’s group and Jin Hae followed the path the old man had indicated into Mount Gireon. Unlike the snowy peaks, the lower part of the mountain was merely damp, not particularly cold—ideal for their mission.

As they walked, Jin Hae broke the silence. “Is there a reason you chose to move with me?”

Tang Mujin replied, “No need to be so formal. You weren’t like this when we headed to Wudang Mountain.”

Jin Hae detected no resentment in Tang Mujin’s voice. Though Tang Mujin regretted the loss of his comrades, he hadn’t been particularly close to them. In the martial world, death was always a possibility.

Jin Hae relaxed a bit. “I understand. But why choose me? There were others more helpful.”

Perhaps because there were no Qingcheng members around, Jin Hae’s demeanor was more relaxed, revealing his naturally gentle nature.

Tang Mujin answered nonchalantly, “Why else? Elder Yeongheo asked me to look after you.”

Was it just to keep a promise? It seemed odd, as it would have been easier for Jin Hae to join other Taoists.

But Tang Mujin’s group had more than a simple reason for choosing Jin Hae.

Namgoong Myung spoke up, “Jin Hae, is this your first real battle?”

“I fought at the Gongdong Sect, so it’s not my first.”

“Including that?”

“Then yes, it’s my first.”

“I thought so.”

Hyun Gong chimed in, “Jin Hae, the pressure must be immense, right?”

“What do you mean by pressure?”

“I understand why you were so rigid before. You wanted to show strength in front of the Qingcheng members and prove you hadn’t forgotten Elder Yeongheo’s sacrifice, right?”

Hyun Gong’s words hit the mark. Jin Hae felt he had to avenge the unorthodox martial artists for Elder Yeongheo. It was his duty to carry on the legacy.

Whether it suited him or not didn’t matter.

Jin Hae asked, “Are you telling me to let go of grudges and live with a detached, Taoist attitude? I can’t do that.”

Namgoong Myung replied, “Who said that?”

Namgoong Myung grinned mischievously. Jin Hae clearly misunderstood Elder Yeongheo’s final teachings, thinking they were just powerful martial arts.

But Namgoong Myung believed Elder Yeongheo’s teachings were more profound.

‘In time, he might understand. But if I can help him realize it sooner, that’s enough.’

True mastery isn’t just about taking; sometimes, it’s about giving back more than you took.

And Namgoong Myung considered himself the greatest master of all.

He approached Jin Hae, draping an arm over his shoulder. “If you’re going to walk a tough path, let’s make it a truly bloody one.”