Chapter 321: The Crossroads

Tang Mujin turned to his companions and asked, “So, which way are we going? North of Dongting Lake or south?”

The group fell into contemplation. They were starting from Wuchang and heading to Sichuan, but the exact route was still undecided. People often spoke vaguely of traveling south of the Yangtze River, but that was a vast area.

Tang Mujin’s two options boiled down to a simple choice: stick close to the Yangtze or take a path a bit further away. While the region south of the Yangtze was often considered the domain of the unorthodox martial world, that wasn’t entirely accurate.

In the upper reaches of the Yangtze, near Guizhou, crossing the river meant entering the territory of the unorthodox martial artists. Conflicts between orthodox and unorthodox fighters were common there. However, moving east to the middle reaches of the Yangtze, the situation changed.

A little south of the middle Yangtze lay the vast Dongting Lake. The area north of the lake was known as Hubei, and the south as Hunan. Despite being south of the Yangtze, Hubei was subtly acknowledged as orthodox territory, while Hunan was considered unorthodox.

Tang Mujin’s question was straightforward: Would they tread the fine line of orthodox territory or venture into the unorthodox domain?

“Hmm…” The logical choice seemed to be the orthodox path, but both options had their pros and cons. Traveling through orthodox territory increased the chance of encountering the Namgung clan, while the unorthodox path risked minor skirmishes with its inhabitants.

Namgung Myung voiced his opinion, “Let’s stick to the original plan. Even if we clash with some unorthodox fighters, we’ll head south.”

His desire to avoid the Namgung clan made his choice clear. However, Hyun Gong offered a counterpoint, “It’s safer to go through Hubei. With Elder Yeom with us, we should avoid unnecessary risks.”

Elder Yeom, though trained in martial arts, was not a formidable fighter. A confrontation with unorthodox martial artists could be dangerous for him. Hyun Gong also had another reason—he wanted to ensure Seolhwa’s safety.

With Namgung Myung and Hyun Gong at odds, the decision fell to Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae. Elder Yeom remained neutral, and Seolhwa was unfamiliar with the geography. After some feigned deliberation, Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae proposed a compromise.

“Let’s head to Dongting Lake first and decide from there.”

Both Namgung Myung and Hyun Gong agreed to this plan.

Dongting Lake was a renowned destination, attracting people from all over the central plains. It was a place where both martial artists and ordinary people gathered. For the average person, it was a scenic spot, but for martial artists, it was a land of opportunity.

The ambiguous nature of the area around Dongting Lake, straddling both orthodox and unorthodox territories, made it a hotspot for martial conflicts. Such skirmishes were commonplace, and many young martial artists sought them out, eager to prove themselves.

For ambitious young orthodox fighters, the area was a chance to showcase their skills against unorthodox opponents without fully entering their territory. Success here could earn them recognition across the orthodox martial world.

Of course, there were also instances where orthodox fighters were bested, but the thrill-seeking youth often overlooked such risks.

Hong Geolgae scouted the area around Dongting Lake and returned with a report. “No issues,” he said, confirming there were no wanted posters of Namgung Myung or signs of the Namgung clan nearby. Relieved, the group headed towards the lake.

Dongting Lake was famed for its breathtaking beauty. In the early morning, a mist hung over the water, creating an ethereal atmosphere. As the sun rose, the mist lifted, revealing the lake’s serene surface. At sunset, the lake was bathed in the glow of the setting sun, a sight to behold.

Even after dark, the lake’s charm persisted, with inns around the lake lighting red lanterns, creating a picturesque scene.

Elder Yeom gazed at the lake, a rare smile gracing his face since the passing of his colleague, Yang. “Thanks to you all, I get to see Dongting Lake, something I never imagined.”

“We’ll stay a few days, so take your time to enjoy it,” Tang Mujin replied.

“Thank you,” Elder Yeom said, his gratitude evident.

The group dispersed to explore. Hyun Gong and Seolhwa slipped away to tour the lake, while Hong Geolgae and Namgung Myung discreetly followed them. Tang Mujin and Elder Yeom found themselves in an inn, sharing a drink and enjoying a rare moment of peace.

The inns around Dongting Lake were abuzz with chatter, filled with tales of recent events. The most popular stories were about the skirmishes between martial artists around the lake. For instance, a tale of an orthodox fighter getting thoroughly beaten in a recent brawl.

But such stories could only entertain for so long. When the local tales ran dry, stories from other regions filled the void. Most were trivial, but occasionally, something piqued Tang Mujin’s interest.

“Hey, have you heard?” someone said.

“Heard what?” another replied.

“A master called Cheonryeong Dog has appeared in Wuchang.”

Tang Mujin’s ears perked up. The conversation continued, oblivious to his interest.

“Cheonryeong Dog? Never heard of him. Is he from the Beggars’ Sect?”

“Yes, they say he’s not even thirty and has already defeated the sect leader.”

The story was absurd. Tang Mujin knew Hong Geolgae’s whereabouts well, and he certainly hadn’t defeated the Beggars’ Sect leader. It was likely a tale from a martial arts competition in Wuchang that had been exaggerated as it spread.

Amused, Tang Mujin listened as the story grew more outlandish.

“They say the Beggars’ Sect is in turmoil. It’s certain that either Gyu Cho Dog or Cheonryeong Dog will be the next leader, but no one knows who.”

The patrons debated who would become the next leader, the conversation inevitably shifting to who was stronger. The consensus seemed to favor Cheonryeong Dog, with some even claiming to have witnessed him besting Gyu Cho Dog.

Tang Mujin’s lips twitched with the urge to reveal the truth about Hong Geolgae. But before he could act, a man burst into the inn, shouting urgently.

“Does anyone have a miracle medicine for internal injuries?”

It was a desperate plea. Such medicines were rare, and the chance of someone in the inn having one was slim. The man, clearly at his wit’s end, had been running around seeking help, his breath ragged.

Yet sometimes, miracles do happen. Like having a healer skilled in treating internal injuries present in the inn.

Tang Mujin spoke up, “Is there a problem?”

“The eldest son of the Akyang Song family was injured in a duel and is coughing up blood! If you have a miracle medicine, we’ll reward you handsomely!”

It seemed he had tried to make a name for himself against an unorthodox fighter and paid the price. The patrons clicked their tongues in sympathy.

The man approached Tang Mujin, hope in his eyes. “Do you have such a medicine?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t. Such medicines aren’t common.”

The man’s face fell, frustration evident. Time was of the essence, and he was wasting it on idle curiosity.

But Tang Mujin added, “However, I do know how to treat internal injuries without medicine.”

“What kind of nonsense is that…” the man began, but a whisper from one of the storytellers caught his attention.

“Isn’t the Dragon of Medicine supposed to be about that age? And he does have a rather distinguished look.”

Though the voice was low, the words seemed to ring clearly in the air.

The man who had been spouting curses quickly gauged Tang Mujin’s reaction. There was something oddly relaxed about his expression.

He realized that anyone who had heard of the Song family of Akyang wouldn’t dare to speak nonsense around Dongting Lake.

With a hint of hope, the man twisted his words.

“Even in a dog-eat-dog world, luck can still be on your side! Are you perhaps the Dragon of Medicine?”

“Indeed, I am.”

In places where martial artists are rare, impostors often appear, but this was Dongting Lake, where martial artists were as common as pebbles. No sane person would impersonate a martial artist here. Despite a faint whiff of alcohol, Tang Mujin looked every bit the part of a respectable man.

“Master, could I have a moment of your time?”

“Of course. Let’s have Doctor Yeom join us as well.”

Tang Mujin followed the man.

They arrived at a lavish tavern, though it was clear a brawl had taken place inside. Furniture was broken, and half the tables were either slashed or shattered.

In one corner lay the eldest son of the Song family, bleeding from the mouth, clearly in a dire state.

Tang Mujin and Doctor Yeom pushed through the crowd surrounding him.

Tang Mujin assessed the rise and fall of the young man’s chest and his complexion.

“Doesn’t seem too serious.”

He examined the blood the young man had coughed up. There were no signs of internal damage, and the color was normal.

“Doesn’t look like it’ll be a major issue.”

Tang Mujin took the patient’s left wrist, gesturing for Doctor Yeom to take the right.

While treating the patient, he also intended to provide a learning opportunity for Doctor Yeom.

Tang Mujin spoke calmly.

“Doctor Yeom, which acupoints seem to be the problem?”

“Let me see… The Geuncheuk and Sinju points are clearly affected. They’re quite tense.”

“And what about the Liver Meridian?”

“Ah, there’s an issue with the Jangmun point too. Almost missed it.”

Their conversation was oddly relaxed, given the situation. It was almost frustrating to listen to.

Yet Tang Mujin remained composed, not intervening directly.

“To prevent the twisted acupoints from worsening, what should we do?”

“If we temporarily seal the Jungchu and Dodo points, the problem with the Ren Meridian won’t escalate.”

A straightforward and sensible approach, akin to tying off a wound to prevent bleeding.

“That’s a good prescription. Since your internal energy control is still developing, I’ll calm the meridians for now.”

Tang Mujin channeled a thin stream of internal energy to stabilize the patient’s erratic meridians. The patient’s condition didn’t visibly improve, but Tang Mujin remained unflustered.

“What about the Jangmun point? How would you treat it?”

“Pressing the Gimon and Geupmaek points should do the trick.”

“That’s a sound approach. However, the Jangmun point isn’t in a critical state, so directly addressing it could be effective.”

While people debated whether to question Tang Mujin’s methods, he pressed the Jangmun point on the patient’s side.

Miraculously, the patient’s condition improved. Though he still coughed up blood, his complexion brightened, and his breathing deepened.

Even those unfamiliar with medicine could see Tang Mujin was no amateur.

The urgency in the crowd’s expressions noticeably faded.

When Tang Mujin withdrew his hand, those surrounding the patient approached him.

“Is the treatment complete?”

“No, I’ve merely stabilized his condition for now.”

“Does that mean he can’t be cured?”

“I could wake him up immediately, but that wouldn’t be wise in the long run. It’s better to treat him gradually over two or three days. There’s no benefit in rushing, so be patient.”

The crowd finally relaxed.

The eldest son of the Song family awoke the next day, and two days later, Tang Mujin’s treatment concluded. Though he needed some time to recuperate, his condition was stable, with no major issues expected.

Occasionally, more patients appeared, but most served as practice for Doctor Yeom.

Four days later, as Tang Mujin’s group prepared to leave Dongting Lake, a young woman pushed through the crowd to approach him.

“Excuse me… Are you the Dragon of Medicine, Master Tang?”

Another fight, perhaps? Tang Mujin wondered as he replied.

“Yes, I am. Is there a patient?”

“Yes.”

Since they were leaving, it was best to see to any remaining patients. Tang Mujin spoke lightly.

“Lead the way.”

However, the woman hesitated.

“The patient isn’t nearby. Is that alright?”

“Not near Dongting Lake, then?”

“No. It would take two days to reach them.”

Tang Mujin hadn’t been in the area long. If someone had come from such a distance to find him, the patient must be significant.

When he asked, the woman glanced around nervously before leaning in to whisper.

“Could you lend me your ear?”

“Of course.”

As Tang Mujin leaned in, the woman whispered.

“The Warrior Princess has collapsed. Have you heard of the name ‘Warrior Princess’?”