Episode 286: The Seventh Knot

Hwahwa Nogae, the Ark of the Beggars’ Sect, wasn’t particularly greedy. Yet, throughout his life, there was one thing he yearned for with all his heart: the seventh knot.

Blessed with extraordinary talent, Hwahwa Nogae reached the pinnacle of martial arts with relative ease—a feat that others might spend a lifetime striving for.

This was when he was just thirty-six years old.

Though the Beggars’ Sect boasted many members, true masters were few and far between. Thus, anyone who surpassed the pinnacle was considered on par with the Five Greats and could quickly become a Six-Knot Master.

Hwahwa Nogae crossed that pinnacle at thirty-six and became a Six-Knot Master by thirty-nine.

In such a position, most would aspire to become an elder or even the leader of the sect. But Hwahwa Nogae knew his limits well.

He was of a similar age to the remarkable Jeong Su-yu, known as the “Walking Immortal.”

Before Jeong Su-yu earned his moniker, Hwahwa Nogae had seen him and knew instantly, “I can’t beat him. He’ll be the leader of the Beggars’ Sect.”

Even if Hwahwa Nogae outlived Jeong Su-yu, an elder on the brink of death couldn’t become the leader. Achieving nine knots in one’s lifetime was practically impossible.

He couldn’t become a disciple of someone his own age, so aiming for the position of an Eight-Knot Master was equally out of reach.

Thus, the highest he could realistically aim for was the position of a Seven-Knot Elder, and fortunately, Hwahwa Nogae was content with that.

Being a Seven-Knot Elder was a prestigious position, respected even among the great sects.

However, an unexpected problem arose.

For Hwahwa Nogae to become an elder, one of the six current elders needed to die or retire. But they were all remarkably long-lived.

“When will they ever die?”

When you’re just one step away from your goal, you’re filled with a burning desire to reach it. But as time drags on, impatience sets in, and after ten years, you start to feel a bit unhinged. Hwahwa Nogae spent over twenty years without achieving the seventh knot.

This prolonged lack left him obsessed, day and night, with the seventh knot. Yet, the elders remained frustratingly healthy.

Then, one day, a stranger came to see Hwahwa Nogae.

He was a man with the appearance of a scholar from a noble family, wielding a massive sword that even a butcher wouldn’t use.

His skills were exceptional, far surpassing Hwahwa Nogae’s own.

“A supreme master!”

The man introduced himself as Gwang Yeom-ra.

His unfamiliar moniker suggested he wasn’t from the orthodox sects, but his exact affiliation was unclear. He was likely from the unorthodox sects.

Gwang Yeom-ra made an enticing offer to the tense Hwahwa Nogae.

“Listen, Hwahwa Nogae. A great war between the orthodox and unorthodox sects is coming. If you promise to follow my instructions just once or twice, I’ll ensure you become an elder.”

“An elder? Ha! If I wait a bit longer, I’ll get there on my own!”

“Didn’t you endure over twenty years with that mindset?”

”···.”

The faces of the elders flashed in his mind.

Elders who were still robust, even as they approached eighty. Elders who showed no intention of relinquishing their positions until death.

Yet, Hwahwa Nogae didn’t succumb to temptation easily.

“Do you think I’d betray the sect I’ve served all my life? Nonsense! Leave at once!”

When Hwahwa Nogae shouted in feigned anger, Gwang Yeom-ra calmly spoke again.

“Betrayal? I don’t ask for that. Just hesitate or falter once or twice when needed. That’s all. Then you can become an elder.”

“I can become an elder on my own! The youngest elder is over seventy!”

“Listen. It’s not just about age. Can you be sure you’ll survive the war?”

”···.”

Hwahwa Nogae couldn’t refute that. If a great war truly broke out, even top-tier masters would fall like leaves. He had nearly lost his life in the last war.

Gwang Yeom-ra whispered again.

“I’m not asking you to stab your fellow sect members in the back. Just hesitate once or twice. Nothing more. If you accept my offer, you’ll survive the war. Even in a blood-soaked battlefield, the swords of the unorthodox masters will miss you.”

The fact that he didn’t succumb to the first temptation implies he did to the second.

Hwahwa Nogae’s resolve wavered.

He was filled with the desire to become an elder, even if it meant dying afterward.

What would life as a Seven-Knot Elder be like? How would it feel to achieve that status?

It would be as satisfying and joyous as scratching an itch that had tormented him for twenty years.

“How can I trust you?”

“It’s beneficial for us to have a connection in the Beggars’ Sect. Your survival benefits us too, doesn’t it?”

The use of “us” was concerning, but Gwang Yeom-ra’s reasoning was sound.

Moreover, his proposal included the premise of the sect’s survival.

“Hmm…”

After a long deliberation, Hwahwa Nogae nodded, and Gwang Yeom-ra smiled contentedly.

“Good. Place your palm here as a seal.”

Gwang Yeom-ra handed him a paper filled with ominous black characters.

Though illiterate, Hwahwa Nogae could guess the contents. It was likely something that would cause great trouble if others in the sect found out.

“I can become an elder. As long as I’m not caught, it’s fine.”

Hwahwa Nogae pressed his ink-stained palm onto the paper, and Gwang Yeom-ra smiled with satisfaction.

“You’ve made a wise choice. By the time the war is halfway through, you’ll be an elder.”

“Understood. Keep your promise.”

Hwahwa Nogae and Gwang Yeom-ra parted ways, leaving behind a small secret pact.

At that time, there were no issues.

But things took an unexpected turn shortly after.

Less than a month after meeting Gwang Yeom-ra, an elder injured his hip during training and retired. The war hadn’t even begun.

The other elders approached Hwahwa Nogae.

“Hwahwa Nogae, we’d like you to fill Elder Wang’s position.”

“Uh… Alright.”

As if a dam had burst, other elders began to retire one after another. Some stepped down due to illness, others simply decided it was time to rest.

Without any intervention from Gwang Yeom-ra, four of the six elder positions were replaced within half a year.

“Becoming an elder doesn’t feel… as joyful as I thought.”

The fruit had ripened too late, and Hwahwa Nogae had picked it too soon.

Now, all that remained in his mind was the dark handprint.

Hwahwa Nogae realized too late that twenty years of impatience had blinded him.

If he had waited just one more month, he could have fully enjoyed this joy.

No matter how much he regretted it, the handprint wouldn’t disappear.

To make matters worse, Hwahwa Nogae even became the chief elder.

Then, the great war truly erupted, and before Hwahwa Nogae could act, Jeong Su-yu was killed.

Suddenly, the chief elder Hwahwa Nogae found himself as the unexpected leader of the sect.

“Life…”

He had exceeded his goals, but the path he took was not honorable, leaving him unable to find true happiness.

Tang Mujin examined the condition of the Shaolin monks and the Beggars’ Sect members who had returned to Kaifeng.

However, unlike the Shaolin monks, the Beggars’ Sect members were reluctant to heed Tang Mujin’s advice.

Many of them had lived lives far removed from the care of physicians.

“Your meridians from the Central Pivot to the Yin Yang and the Gate of Muteness are severely disrupted. You should rest for a while.”

Tang Mujin advised a middle-aged member of the Beggars’ Sect, but the man showed no intention of following the physician’s prescription. He rotated his shoulders and replied.

“I’m fine. I’ve lived a rough life on the streets, and my body is as tough as stone. This won’t stop me. The next battle will come soon.”

“If you insist on fighting, tell ten people around you what I said.”

“What should I tell them?”

“Tell them that the head of the Tang family advised you to rest, but you chose to ignore it and head to the battlefield.”

“Why should I say that?”

“So that if you suddenly collapse and die, people won’t blame me.”

The Beggars’ Sect member scrutinized Tang Mujin, wondering if it was a joke, but Tang Mujin’s expression remained calm.

“Collapse and die?”

“Yes. Not from a sword wound, but from your disrupted meridians. You’ll clutch your neck and fall. There’s about a seventy percent chance you’ll die on the spot.”

“But there’s still a thirty percent chance I’ll survive. I’ve never lived a gentle life. That much is…”

“Well, living without knowing up from down might be tough, but it’s better than dying. Life is precious, after all.”

”…How long should I rest?”

As a physician gains experience, it’s not just their medical skills that improve. The real difference between a novice and a seasoned doctor lies in how they handle patients who refuse to listen.

Dang Mujin knew when to be stern and when to be gentle, always assessing the state of those around him.

Even those who seemed fine on the surface were thoroughly checked, and it took him a full three days just to diagnose and prescribe treatments.

By the time he finished, the monks from Shaolin and the members of the Beggars’ Sect were ready to head north.

Dang Mujin, his friends, and even Seolhwa joined the monks.

Just as the group was about to set off, Manryeokseung approached Dang Mujin and Namgung Myeong.

Unlike usual, Hyeongong was a bit further away, teaching Seolhwa the language of the Central Plains.

Manryeokseung spoke up.

“Yi-ryong, you’ve been tending to patients for three days without rest and now you’re joining us. Can you manage?”

“I know my own limits. I can hold out until tonight. A good night’s sleep will do the trick.”

“True, if you can see into others’ bodies, you surely know your own.”

“By the way, may I ask something?”

“Anything.”

“I’ve heard that the Great War of Righteousness often focuses more on defense than attack. I assumed the same for the Beggars’ Sect and Shaolin.”

Manryeokseung nodded at Dang Mujin’s words.

“You’re not wrong. Until recently, both the Beggars’ Sect and Shaolin were quietly defending Kaifeng and Songshan.”

“Then why are you leaving Kaifeng to head north?”

“You know about the attack on Geolseon, right?”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“The circumstances were suspicious. We decided waiting quietly wasn’t the answer.”

Manryeokseung, perceptive as he was, continued without waiting for Dang Mujin’s response.

“A big fight broke out on the outskirts of Kaifeng not long ago. We were outnumbered, but Shaolin’s timely support helped us drive out the unorthodox fighters. Our monks had anticipated that the unorthodox would target the Beggars’ Sect rather than Shaolin, so we stationed people around the area.”

“A wise decision.”

Namgung Myeong praised, and Manryeokseung smiled.

“Yes, it was. But Geolseon, thinking we had the upper hand, pursued the remnants with two of his men, and that’s when it happened.”

”…He must have chased them too far.”

Namgung Myeong’s voice dropped, but Manryeokseung waved his large hand dismissively.

“Not really. It was only about ten or fifteen li. The reinforcements set out less than half an hour later, but by then, Geolseon and his men were already dead.”

In other words, someone had killed Geolseon within that short time frame. Namgung Myeong and Dang Mujin’s expressions grew serious.

Someone like Yoo Jin-gwang might settle things in a few breaths, but most martial artists’ fights don’t end that quickly. Especially for someone like Geolseon, who didn’t use weapons, the fight would typically last longer.

How many in the world could take down someone of Geolseon’s caliber in such a short time? If there were any, they’d be incredibly skilled.

Namgung Myeong asked, “Was there an extraordinary master among the unorthodox fighters?”

“They say the only supreme master that day was Blood-faced Mad Wolf. Have you heard of him?”

“I’m not familiar.”

“I’ve heard the name.”

Their answers differed, and Namgung Myeong smirked at Dang Mujin, but when Dang Mujin fiddled with the ring inside his sleeve, Namgung Myeong quickly wiped the smile off his face.

Namgung Myeong explained on behalf of Manryeokseung.

“Actually, it’s not strange that you haven’t heard of Blood-faced Mad Wolf. He only operates in the eastern part of the Central Plains. He’s had a few run-ins with the Namgung family over some unsavory matters.”

“What kind of person is he?”

“He uses all sorts of strange weapons and will do anything to win. He once bit an opponent’s neck, covering his face in blood, which is how he got his nickname.”

Even with the explanation, the nickname was hard to grasp.

How does one fight in such a way that a supreme master ends up biting an opponent’s neck?

Dang Mujin asked Manryeokseung, “If he could kill someone like Geolseon in such a short time, Blood-faced Mad Wolf must be incredibly skilled.”

Namgung Myeong answered again, “He’s a supreme master, so he’s no pushover. But he’s not someone who could take down Geolseon in an instant. Among supreme masters, he’s considered lower-tier.”

“Then, could it have been a joint attack?”

Manryeokseung replied, “That’s what I think. Blood-faced Mad Wolf probably pretended to lose and flee as part of a plan. He likely joined forces with someone waiting to ambush Geolseon.”

“Hmm.”

Indeed, there were the Twin Blood Elders and the Ghost King in the northwest. It made sense for there to be a couple of supreme masters in the northeast as well.

As the conversation reached this point, other Shaolin monks called for Manryeokseung.

Manryeokseung patted Dang Mujin and Namgung Myeong on the back before returning to the monks.

Meanwhile, the members of the Beggars’ Sect passing by the outskirts of Kaifeng paid their respects to a freshly covered grave.

The lack of grass suggested it was newly made, likely Geolseon’s. As if confirming Dang Mujin’s suspicion, Geolseon’s well-worn staff lay atop the grave.

A thought crossed Dang Mujin’s mind that examining Geolseon’s body might reveal much.

But he couldn’t bring himself to disturb the grave. It was something he couldn’t do, even to a sworn enemy.

Yet Namgung Myeong stared at Geolseon’s grave with an unsettling intensity.

It was a simple act, but it sent a chill down Dang Mujin’s spine. A thief and a grave…

‘Could he really…?’

But Namgung Myeong soon shook his head. There was still a sliver of humanity left in him.

As they traveled to their destination, Hong Geolgae was learning the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms from Hwahwa Nogae.

Though not a direct disciple, Hong Geolgae was one of the few taught by Geolseon, giving him the right to request instruction from Hwahwa Nogae.

Hwahwa Nogae taught him the techniques while pondering.

“His movements are clumsy. Is he first-rate? Or just barely at the pinnacle? I’ve never seen someone so uncertain.”

“Compared to his friends, he might be lacking, but objectively, he’s quite accomplished. He might not become a leader, but he could reach elder status someday.”

Hwahwa Nogae taught Hong Geolgae strictly. He could only pass on three techniques of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

Yet Hong Geolgae struggled to master even those three.

Spending all his free time on Hong Geolgae, Hwahwa Nogae eventually lost his patience and scolded him.

“How can you forget what I just taught you so quickly?”

“I’m sorry. I’m still lacking…”

“Low achievement isn’t the issue! Making the same mistake five times in a row means one of two things: either you’re a fool, or you have no intention of learning from me! Which is it?”

“Neither.”

“Then are you pretending to be a fool?”

Hwahwa Nogae reprimanded him harshly. With no excuse, Hong Geolgae bowed his head, hands clasped, and stammered.

But Hwahwa Nogae thought he saw a faint smile on Hong Geolgae’s downturned face.

’…Something about him is unsettling. I need to teach him quickly and be done with it.’