Tang Mujin and his companions laid Yang the physician to rest in a sunny spot before setting off on their journey once more.
In their hearts, they wished to bury him in his hometown or at the Tang family estate, but the condition of his body made that impossible.
Yom, trying to sound upbeat, spoke up, “We need to catch a boat, so I guess it’s off to Wuchang?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Despite his attempt at cheerfulness, Yom couldn’t hide the shadow of grief left by the absence of his lifelong friend. Yet, he made a conscious effort to mask his sorrow, knowing that even one person’s melancholy could dampen the entire group’s spirits.
Yom’s wisdom and consideration were befitting of an elder.
To lift Yom’s spirits, Tang Mujin began teaching him about poisons.
“This here is ephedra. You’ve seen it before, haven’t you?”
“It’s used to dispel cold, isn’t it? Though I’ve only seen the processed kind…”
“As you know, ephedra is full of yang energy. If taken unprocessed, it can cause rapid heartbeat, damp heat, and chest pain. Its toxicity shouldn’t be underestimated, but when combined with warm poisons, its effects are amplified, showcasing its true potential as a poison.”
They started with the poisons and mushrooms most familiar to a physician.
As Tang Mujin taught Yom about poisons, he realized just how much there was to share. If Yom weren’t a physician, a simple explanation of the effects and usage would suffice. But with Yom, Tang Mujin delved into the names, forms, properties, and distinguishing features of poisonous plants, laying the groundwork for mastering poison techniques.
Yom absorbed the knowledge eagerly.
The overlap between medicine and poison made his learning swift. For some milder poisons, he even experienced their effects firsthand to understand their nature.
“If only Wana were here, we could learn even more.”
Teaching Yom about poisons made Tang Mujin realize how much he had neglected this field.
Until now, he thought the poison techniques compiled by the demonic physician were sufficient. But conversations with Yom opened his eyes to endless possibilities.
Just as herbalists process herbs to enhance their efficacy and reduce toxicity, perhaps poisons could be refined to remove medicinal properties and enhance their toxic effects.
It might even be possible to combine poisons, leaving only specific properties to create new ones.
The field of poison techniques was like an untouched snowy expanse, full of untapped potential due to the lack of researchers.
“I’ve been using poison techniques without truly understanding poisons.”
Tang Mujin felt an urgent desire to return to the Tang family estate.
Three days later, Tang Mujin and his group arrived near Wuchang late in the evening.
“Let’s rest in Wuchang tonight and set sail tomorrow or the day after.”
“Sounds good.”
As they approached, they noticed something unusual. Several people seemed to be patrolling the outskirts of Wuchang.
They carried swords proudly at their waists and had an air of arrogance, marking them as martial artists.
Hong Geolge commented, “Is something going on?”
“Like what?”
“Maybe a southern sect attacked Wuchang or something.”
“Could be.”
As they chatted and prepared to enter Wuchang, someone called out to them.
“Hey, you there!”
Stopping when called was only natural. Tang Mujin and his group halted and turned to face the caller.
It was a young man and woman. The man wore a hero’s headband, his hair meticulously arranged, likely to impress the woman beside him.
Despite his confident demeanor, the man seemed a bit nervous upon seeing the swords at Tang Mujin’s group’s waists.
But few men would show weakness in front of a woman they admired, just as Namgung Myung had once done on a boat.
Tang Mujin asked, “What is it?”
The man with the headband, balancing confidence and politeness, replied, “There are wanted notices out, and we need to check your descriptions. Please cooperate.”
“Of course.”
As Tang Mujin stood tall, the man scrutinized his face carefully.
He held a paper with descriptions of wanted individuals, glancing between it and Tang Mujin with a slightly doubtful expression.
Tang Mujin caught a glimpse of the paper’s contents.
[A man in his late twenties. A martial artist with a lively demeanor. Clear eyes and cautious actions, with a subtle elegance. Treat with respect due to high status.]
[A physician of similar age, with a neat appearance. Speaks with a Sichuan accent.]
[A Taoist in his late twenties. Serious demeanor with a weighty presence. Occasionally has a sinister smile.]
[A beggar.]
[A woman with yellow hair, likely a foreigner.]
’…’
The descriptions felt eerily familiar.
The paper even had simple portraits drawn with a fine brush, with Namgung Myung’s portrait particularly detailed and somewhat idealized.
Interestingly, the most crucial information was missing: names or nicknames.
The man with the headband seemed unfazed until he saw Hong Geolge, then relaxed slightly upon seeing Yom, but stiffened when he saw Seolhwa.
Few women with yellow hair could be found across the entire central plains.
The man with the headband said, “Uh, um. You’re not the ones we’re looking for. You may pass.”
His tone subtly shifted to a more respectful one. At the same time, Hyun Gong’s voice whispered in Tang Mujin’s ear.
Tang Mujin’s mind raced. The descriptions clearly matched their group.
Namgung Myung’s description was at the top, written most favorably, and his portrait was the most detailed.
All clues pointed to one conclusion.
‘Namgung Jinya is after Namgung Myung.’
But why would the man with the headband pretend not to recognize them?
Simple. He couldn’t capture them alone, so he planned to feign ignorance and call for reinforcements. Perhaps he had already sent a discreet signal, as people were slowly approaching from a distance.
After organizing his thoughts, Tang Mujin turned and shouted, “Run!”
With that shout, the group scattered in their own ways.
Tang Mujin carried Yom on his back, using his shadowless steps. Namgung Myung melted into the darkness, while Hyun Gong took Seolhwa’s hand and used his cloud-stepping technique.
Hong Geolge, initially flustered by the sudden turn of events, stumbled with his drunken eight-immortals steps before regaining his composure and fleeing with the beggar’s wind-chasing technique.
The man with the headband shouted desperately, “Catch them! Even if you lose the others, catch that one!”
But the ragtag group couldn’t keep up with Tang Mujin and his companions’ movement techniques.
Soon, they vanished from their pursuers’ sight, leaving the man with the headband looking dejected.
About half an hour later, Tang Mujin and his group regrouped on the outskirts of Wuchang.
Yom cautiously asked, “What just happened? Is something serious going on?”
Yom looked deeply unsettled. Having lived a life free of crime, the act of fleeing was entirely foreign to him.
Hyun Gong shook his head. “I haven’t mentioned it before, but there’s a fugitive among us.”
“Who?”
“Namgung Myung. He’s on the run from the Namgung family.”
Yom’s face turned pale as he imagined the implications. The name of the Namgung family was too heavy for an ordinary physician to bear.
Tang Mujin interjected, “There’s no need to worry too much. It’s not like he’s committed some heinous crime. The wanted notice even said to treat Namgung Myung with respect.”
“Could you explain what’s going on?”
“Think of it as a youthful indiscretion.”
Namgung Myung shot Tang Mujin a glare, but he couldn’t argue against the truth of his words.
Hyun Gong pondered silently.
‘That guy with the headband shouted, “Catch that one!”’
‘Given the circumstances, “that one” must refer to Namgung Myung. The rest of us were only described because we’re likely traveling with him. The Namgung family is only after Namgung Myung.’
‘What’s the best course of action?’
‘We could abandon Namgung Myung.’
‘Consequences?’
‘He might sulk for a while, but he’s a simple guy. With some sweet-talking and explanations, he’ll come around.’
‘And I could earn favor with Namgung Jinya.’
Hyun Gong’s lingering worries vanished completely.
Just as he was about to voice his thoughts, Tang Mujin spoke first.
“We can’t just abandon Namgung Myung. So, what do we do now?”
Hyun Gong looked around. Everyone seemed to agree with Tang Mujin.
He decided to keep his plan to himself.
Then, Namgung Myung spoke up.
“Wuchang is a big city. Not everyone will be looking for me. First, we need to find out how far our descriptions have spread.”
“How do you plan to verify that?”
“We have the art of disguise, don’t we?”
“Ah, right!”
All eyes turned to Hong Geolgae, the one most skilled in the art of disguise.
This technique involved using inner energy to fix the muscles of the face. Those unskilled in manipulating their inner energy or unfamiliar with the technique couldn’t maintain the altered face for long.
However, Hong Geolgae’s mastery of disguise was at a stable level. It was the same technique that hadn’t faltered even during the martial arts tournament.
Namgung Myung asked Hong Geolgae, “Can you do it?”
A short while later, a beggar appeared on the outskirts of Wuchang.
If this beggar had been ordinary, he might have aroused suspicion, as the group was on the lookout for beggars. But the man and woman who had just encountered Dang Mujin’s group didn’t suspect the beggar. His face was too well-known.
“Hey, you!”
The woman called out in a shrill voice, and the beggar turned to look at her with a serene expression.
The man, wearing a hero’s mask, couldn’t hide his surprise.
“Could it be… you are!”
“Do you know me?”
“How could I not recognize you! The champion of the last martial arts tournament, Hong Geon!”
Hong Geolgae basked in the feeling of being a celebrity, smiling contentedly. Even as his expression changed, his disguise held firm.
He asked casually, “You recognize me? I’m flattered. But what brings you two to such a deserted place?”
“We’re cooperating with the Namgung family on a search warrant.”
Feigning ignorance, Hong Geolgae replied, “A search warrant from the Namgung family? Must be someone who committed a serious crime.”
“They didn’t seem like a criminal, more like someone important. We were lucky to run into them earlier, but unfortunately, they slipped away.”
“That’s unfortunate. I hope you have better luck next time.”
With that, Hong Geolgae nonchalantly left the two behind and entered Wuchang. He needed to check if anyone inside was also searching for Namgung Myung. Those outside could be easily evaded under the cover of darkness.
However, as he surveyed the interior of Wuchang, Hong Geolgae’s face hardened. Posters depicting Namgung Myung’s face were plastered everywhere.
‘This won’t be easy.’
If Namgung Myung were the only one identified, teaching him the art of disguise would suffice. He was quick to learn martial arts, after all.
But the problem was that Namgung Myung wasn’t the only one on the wanted list. Everyone except for Yeom, the physician, would need to use the disguise technique to avoid suspicion.
’…No, that won’t work either.’
The wanted list included Seolhwa, whose distinctive yellow hair couldn’t be hidden by merely altering facial muscles.
For a moment, the thought of abandoning Seolhwa crossed his mind, but Hong Geolgae shook his head to dispel such a notion. That wasn’t the way of a righteous warrior.
As he was about to return to the outskirts with the bad news, Hong Geolgae noticed that the way people were looking at him was unusual.
Not everyone, but a certain group—the beggars—were eyeing him meaningfully.
‘Why are they looking at me like that?’
As Hong Geolgae made a puzzled face, a beggar with three knots approached him.
A Samgyeolgae, a branch leader.
Though he seemed well over forty, he bowed respectfully before Hong Geolgae.
It was a strange sight. Unlike Hong Geolgae, who had five knots, “Hong Geon” was only a two-knot member of the Beggars’ Sect.
’…Is it because I won the tournament? No, that can’t be it. His rank is higher within the sect. Could it be that my cover is blown?’
The thought of his deception being exposed and rumors spreading throughout the martial world made him dizzy.
Flustered, Hong Geolgae asked, “W-what brings you here, Branch Leader?”
He braced himself for the moment the branch leader might accuse him of being “Hong Jusan, the five-knot master of the Central Branch.”
But the branch leader replied, “It’s only right to lower oneself before someone of higher status.”
“Higher status? I’m just a two-knot—”
“No, you’re destined to gain six more knots and become an eight-knot master.”
Caught off guard by the unexpected statement, Hong Geolgae dumbly repeated, ”…What?”
The branch leader explained, “There’s a rumor that Master Hwahwa plans to make you his successor. He’s actually in Wuchang right now, searching for you.”
The mere thought was terrifying. Hong Geolgae hastily tried to deflect.
“Successor? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Besides, wouldn’t Master Gyuchogae Hong Geolgae be more suited for the position? I heard he surpassed the pinnacle of martial arts at a young age!”
Hong Geolgae was genuinely grateful his friends weren’t around to hear him boast. They’d tease him for thirty years if they did.
The branch leader shook his head. “Of course, Master Gyuchogae is a hero in our sect. But Master Hwahwa seems hesitant to make someone more skilled than himself his successor. A successor is both an heir and a disciple, after all.”
”…”
“I heard through the grapevine that Master Hwahwa intends to appoint you as his successor and then immediately pass the leadership to Master Gyuchogae.”
If things continued this way, he’d end up becoming the leader, and his secret would be out in no time.
Unaware of Hong Geolgae’s inner turmoil, the branch leader extended his hand.
“Please, come with me. Master Hwahwa is eagerly looking for you.”
Hong Geolgae stared at the hand, trembling with fear.