Episode 32: Namgung Myung
Rumors spread quickly.
If trivial gossip about a young man from the neighboring village falling for a woman from the lower village can spread like wildfire, imagine how fast the news of bandits who had been harassing merchants in Zhongjing disappearing would travel.
Merchants traveling through Zhongjing to Sichuan gathered in small groups, exchanging stories.
“Hey, did you see those Zhangshangchai thugs on your way up the river this time?”
“No, I didn’t. Why do you ask?”
“Usually, as soon as a boat approaches the mouth of Zhongjing, those Zhangshangchai scoundrels would be lurking around. But they haven’t shown up for days now.”
“Really? That’s great news. That Zhangshangchai leader, always killing innocent people… maybe he got struck by lightning.”
“No, it wasn’t lightning. There’s talk that two young men took him down.”
“Young men? They must be from some powerful martial arts sect, right?”
“Apparently not. I heard from Song the blacksmith that one of them is definitely a blacksmith with the surname Tang.”
“A blacksmith? How could a blacksmith…?”
“Beats me…”
As rumors about Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae spread among the travelers with their bundles, Hong Geolgae finally recovered enough to get back on his feet.
The most severe injury had been his finger, where the bone was exposed, but thankfully, it seemed he wouldn’t suffer any permanent damage.
“Time to get going?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Gwiui, Tang Mujin, and Hong Geolgae headed to the Yangtze River to find a boat to Luoyang, leaving Zhongjing behind.
Gwiui, as if it were the most natural thing, headed straight for the largest and most spacious boat, which was undoubtedly the most expensive.
Tang Mujin wasn’t worried about the fare. Most of the money they had taken from the blacksmiths had disappeared with Gwiui.
“Old man, how much money do we have left?”
“Money? There’s none.”
“Why not?”
“Desire makes everything bloom, but possession makes everything wither and fade. I’m too young to wither.”
“Stop with the nonsense and tell me properly. You took over a hundred silver coins! Where did it all go?”
“It’s the same reason you could stay at the Xin Yue Inn for free.”
It seemed he had gambled away all that money in just a few days.
Tang Mujin clenched his fists without realizing it.
“Then what do we do? How are we supposed to board the boat?”
“What do you mean? I saw the silver in your pocket last night. You have a little over seventy taels. Sixty taels should be enough for the three of us to get to Luoyang.”
Tang Mujin realized once again how terrifying Gwiui was.
Not many people would secretly check the pockets of someone thirty years younger than themselves. Even fewer would admit it without shame and demand the money outright.
The sailor collecting the fare looked at Tang Mujin with a sullen expression.
The meaning was clear: pay up or get lost.
As the only one with money, Tang Mujin handed over the silver with trembling hands. It was the first time he had ever given such a large sum to someone else.
Just then, someone behind him gently pushed his hand aside and handed sixty taels to the sailor.
When Tang Mujin turned around, he saw the face of a stranger, a merchant.
“You’re Tang the blacksmith, right? The blacksmiths wanted to thank you. They asked you to visit Zhongjing again if you get the chance. This is their token of appreciation.”
“Oh, thank you.”
The merchant took out ten more taels and slipped them into Tang Mujin’s pocket.
“This is from Feng the blacksmith. He said he owes you a lot and asked you to come to Feng’s forge if you ever need a blacksmith in Zhongjing.”
“Please convey my thanks.”
“It’s not over yet.”
In his hand were three large gold coins, worth sixty taels of silver.
Without hesitation, the merchant stuffed the three gold coins into Tang Mujin’s pocket.
“What is this…?”
“It’s a token of appreciation from the merchants who were constantly extorted by Zhangshangchai.”
“Such a large sum…”
“The money they lost to Zhangshangchai was much more than this. Even giving this much is a gain, so don’t worry.”
Indeed, the generosity of wealthy merchants was on a different scale than that of blacksmiths.
As Tang Mujin boarded the boat with a sense of pride, Gwiui nudged him in the side.
“What is it?”
“As a partner, I demand my share. Hand over half.”
“Have some conscience. If I give it to anyone, it should be Hong Geolgae, not you.”
When Tang Mujin firmly refused, Gwiui didn’t press further. It seemed he had some semblance of a conscience left.
Soon, the boat began to drift gently.
Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae clung to the railing, gazing out at the scenery.
“Wow.”
It was their first time on a boat, and the experience of watching the scenery from the swaying vessel was unique. The Yangtze River’s Three Gorges were famous for their beauty, making the experience even more special.
However, the view from the boat lacked the dynamic charm to keep their interest indefinitely.
Tang Mujin grew tired of the scenery in less than a day.
“How much longer do we have to go?”
“It varies, but even at the shortest, it’ll take about a month.”
Gwiui replied calmly.
A month. The expressions on Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae’s faces turned to one of despair.
“Why not train on the boat? Training on a ship is more effective than on land.”
“Really?”
“If you get used to fighting on a swaying boat, you can execute powerful moves even in unstable positions. Hand me your sword.”
When Tang Mujin offered the sword he had at his waist, Gwiui waved it away.
“I meant the wooden sword. That’s your sword.”
“Why? I made it for you.”
“A sword belongs to the one who first wields it. The fact that you wielded it before me means the sword chose you.”
“Oh, is that a thing?”
“Yes. Now that it’s come to this, give it a name.”
“What should I call it? How about ‘Soul Severing Sword’?”
“Look at you, having a name ready like you were waiting for this. And ‘Soul Severing Sword’? Aren’t you embarrassed to give such a grand name to a sword you made?”
Annoyed by Gwiui’s constant teasing, Tang Mujin swung his sword at him.
He didn’t expect to actually hit Gwiui, and Gwiui easily dodged.
Before he knew it, Gwiui had Tang Mujin’s wooden sword in his hand, his movements swift and stealthy.
Gwiui twirled the wooden sword.
“Come on, kid.”
With no one around to watch, Tang Mujin swung at Gwiui several more times, but of course, he couldn’t even graze his clothes.
Finally, Gwiui tapped Tang Mujin’s side with the wooden sword, concluding the brief lesson.
“Doesn’t swinging a sword feel different on a boat?”
“Yes, it’s not easy.”
“Get used to this feeling. Training on a ship will save your life one day. You too, Hong Geolgae.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae resumed the training they had paused for a while.
About two weeks into the journey, one night, Tang Mujin was practicing with his Soul Severing Sword on the deck.
‘This feels good.’
He felt as if he had taken a step forward, if not a full step, then at least half a step.
In terms of skill, and psychologically as well.
‘The need for strength comes unexpectedly.’
What if he hadn’t trained so diligently on the way to Zhongjing?
He might have died the moment he encountered Zhangshangchai. Or worse, he might have been killed by the bandits before even meeting Zhangshangchai.
And the three children, including So Seon, would still be trapped in that cave, waiting for death.
The small realization he gained from the life-and-death battle with Zhangshangchai, and his earnest desire for martial arts, these two factors combined to spur Tang Mujin’s training.
As a result, Tang Mujin’s skills improved rapidly, to the point where it could be called a remarkable advancement.
He had absorbed a fair amount of the Black Peony’s internal energy, and his movements were much more natural compared to two weeks ago.
Hong Geolgae’s skills had also improved significantly, but now Tang Mujin could win five out of ten sparring matches against him. He had just returned from knocking Hong Geolgae out today.
‘Winning or losing aside, training itself is fun these days.’
Under the moonlight, as he swung his sword alone, Tang Mujin felt as if he were becoming one with the sword.
It wasn’t the legendary state of unity with the sword that great masters spoke of.
It was simply that the feel of the sword, the act of swinging it, had become incredibly familiar.
Now, Tang Mujin was a proper martial artist.
Naming the Soul Severing Sword had been a good decision in many ways.
He had grown attached to the sword, and it allowed him to wield it with more sincerity.
How long had he been swinging the sword? Tang Mujin sensed someone’s gaze.
A well-groomed man and a beautiful woman were leaning against the ship’s railing, watching him.
The handsome man glanced at Tang Mujin’s swordplay and, when their eyes met, offered a polite bow.
“Apologies. We came out to enjoy the moonlight and ended up watching your training. I’m Namgung Myung.”
Martial artists generally dislike having their training observed by others. In extreme cases, it can even lead to a life-and-death duel.
But Tang Mujin was an exception.
Dang Mujin hadn’t been practicing martial arts for long, so he had no profound insights to hide, nor did he have much experience training alone. In fact, he felt a bit lonely if there was no one around during his practice.
Even if he was truly annoyed, he couldn’t complain. The Namgung family was a renowned martial clan, well-known even to someone like Dang Mujin. Namgung Myung had likely mentioned his name right away for that very reason.
Dang Mujin waved his hand dismissively.
“It’s fine. I practice knowing others might see. It’s not right for my training to inconvenience others. Oh, by the way, I’m Dang Mujin.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Master Dang. Since fate has brought us together, would you care to cross swords with me?”
Namgung Myung’s face was alight with anticipation.
Dang Mujin understood that look all too well. It was the desire to show off, to prove his skills were superior. It was obvious who he wanted to impress—most likely the woman standing behind him.
Truth be told, Dang Mujin was also interested in sparring with Namgung Myung. His previous encounters with Jang Sang-chae and Hong Geol-gae had been enlightening, and a match with Namgung Myung would surely offer new insights.
But that was only if it were a genuine sparring match. Dang Mujin had no intention of being a mere prop for someone else’s ego.
He declined politely.
“I appreciate the offer, but my understanding is shallow. I started martial arts late, and my internal energy is lacking.”
“That’s alright. We can simply exchange basic moves without using internal energy.”
“Besides, I’m not skilled enough to use a real sword in a spar. I only have one wooden sword.”
“That’s not a problem. You can use your real sword, and I’ll use the wooden one.”
Dang Mujin frowned slightly.
He understood the desire to impress someone you fancy, but there were limits. Suggesting to face a real sword with a wooden one was arrogant, regardless of skill level.
Moreover, Namgung Myung’s persistence was almost pathetic. After such a clear refusal, most would have backed down.
But what could he do? Dang Mujin was just a humble village doctor, while Namgung Myung was part of a powerful clan.
Dang Mujin knew that in unavoidable situations, it was sometimes best to yield a little to appease the other party—a lesson learned from treating countless patients.
Reluctantly, he picked up his sword.
“Very well, I’ll learn a thing or two.”
Namgung Myung waited for Dang Mujin to make the first move, not attacking immediately.
Dang Mujin had faced opponents with wooden swords or sticks a couple of times before. They were always peculiar encounters.
In those instances, the peculiar opponents would easily subdue him, teaching him about martial arts—what internal energy was, how to perceive an opponent with more internal energy, how to deflect attacks, and so on.
Dang Mujin expected to be easily subdued by Namgung Myung, just as he had been by those peculiar opponents.
‘Still, I should give it my all. Half-hearted efforts might just anger him.’
Dang Mujin raised his sword high and brought it down in a swift, straightforward strike. It wasn’t entirely predictable, though; he subtly twisted the blade to aim for the shoulder instead of the head.
Seeing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Namgung Myung’s lips. A perfect opponent to showcase his skills.
‘He seems to be of a second-rate level. I’ll demonstrate the art of yielding to strength with the wooden sword, then overwhelm him with my superior technique.’
He planned to deftly parry the real sword with his wooden one, then display a technique that would dominate even with a wooden sword.
It was a flawless plan.
Namgung Myung angled his wooden sword to block Dang Mujin’s strike.
But from the very start, his plan unraveled.
Dang Mujin’s sword sliced through the wooden sword as if it were a mere reed, continuing its path unimpeded.
The sword surged toward Namgung Myung’s shoulder without losing any momentum.
‘What?’
In the span of a single breath since the spar began, Namgung Myung, a promising warrior of the Namgung family, found himself on the brink of becoming a one-armed swordsman.