Episode 322: The Duel
“I think I’ve heard of ‘The Duel’ somewhere before.”
It was a story that carried the exact meaning of its name.
Dang Mujin had heard of ‘The Duel’ but didn’t know much about it. However, the nickname alone suggested two things. A short and straightforward moniker like that wouldn’t be given to just anyone, so the person must be a master. And since the character ‘희’ (Hee) was part of the nickname, it was likely a woman of extraordinary beauty.
Dang Mujin felt a pure curiosity. Just how beautiful must she be to earn such a nickname?
The mere fact that Dang Mujin had heard of ‘The Duel’ seemed to please the woman.
“That’s a relief. Do you think you could help us? Oh, by the way, my name is Kang Jisoo.”
“Of course. You’re planning to leave today, right?”
Dang Mujin’s immediate response caught Kang Jisoo off guard. Usually, in such situations, people would ask a lot of questions first—like where exactly they needed to go, what the symptoms were, or how much the treatment would cost.
Kang Jisoo hesitated before replying.
“Actually, our circumstances aren’t great, so we can’t offer much for the treatment. We’ll try to gather the necessary herbs, but…”
“Don’t worry too much about the treatment cost.”
In the past, Dang Mujin had set fees for his treatments, but after becoming financially secure, he added a new rule: never let a patient suffer financially because of treatment costs.
He had seen people sell their belongings to pay for medicine, only to fall ill again. Illness doesn’t discriminate, but it certainly seems to visit the hungry and the struggling more often.
“More than the cost, are you sure it’s okay to travel such a long distance without knowing the symptoms?”
“In my experience, it’s more accurate to see the patient in person than to hear about the symptoms secondhand. Symptoms can be easily misunderstood.”
Yom, the physician standing nearby, nodded in agreement. He had encountered similar situations many times before.
Dang Mujin stood up and spoke.
“I’ll inform my companions. Meet us at the west side of Dongjeong Lake in two hours.”
Kang Jisoo watched Dang Mujin leave the inn with a slightly bewildered expression. She had expected to be turned down, given the meager compensation they could offer for the services of the best physician in the land.
Mentioning ‘The Duel’ was a strategy to reduce the chances of rejection. But it seemed that Dang Mujin would have reacted the same way even if the patient wasn’t ‘The Duel.’
And that was indeed true. Dang Mujin had never abandoned a patient due to insufficient payment and had no intention of doing so in the future.
Kang Jisoo and her group headed south from Dongjeong Lake.
Moving south meant entering the territory of the infamous Sapa, but Namgung Myung was actually pleased. Entering Sapa’s territory reduced the chances of being captured and dragged back to the Namgung family by Namgung Jinya.
Not only Namgung Myung, but even Hong Geolgae seemed a bit relieved, though no one noticed.
As they traveled south, Dang Mujin’s group discovered something intriguing.
“You don’t know who ‘The Duel’ is?”
“That’s right.”
Everyone except Seolhwa had heard of the nickname ‘The Duel,’ but no one knew more than that.
Yom, the physician, spoke up.
“I rarely interact with martial artists, so it’s hard for me to know much about ‘The Duel.’ I think I heard the nickname in passing at an inn.”
Dang Mujin and his friends were in a similar situation. They weren’t martial artists, so they had only heard the name in places like inns or taverns. It seemed ‘The Duel’ was famous but not very active.
Of course, they could ask Kang Jisoo, who was guiding them, but Dang Mujin didn’t feel the need to inquire further. His philosophy was that an ideal physician shouldn’t show too much interest in matters unrelated to the patient’s illness.
Despite being told it was a two-day journey, they reached their destination in a day and a half by pushing their pace without leaving anyone behind.
The village was nestled halfway up a rather prominent hill, and the location seemed quite favorable.
The hill was densely covered with large trees, so there was little risk of landslides during rain, and a small stream at the base of the hill made it easy to access drinking water.
Dang Mujin crossed the stream, dipped his hand in, and tasted the water. Kang Jisoo, observing him, commented.
“You must be thirsty from the hurried journey.”
“Not really. Sometimes illnesses stem from the water or the land, so I was just checking the water’s condition. It seems fine.”
The group followed Kang Jisoo into the village.
The village was much like any other, but one peculiar feature caught their attention.
’…What is that?’
Since the village was on the hillside, one side was adjacent to the slope, which had a hollowed-out section. In front of this hollow was a large rock.
If it were just a rock, it wouldn’t be noteworthy, but it wasn’t just that. In front of the large rock was a slightly smaller one, and in front of that, another rock, as if something was hidden behind them.
Dang Mujin’s curiosity was piqued by the rocks, but Kang Jisoo led them past without a glance, guiding them to an empty house.
The house didn’t feel abandoned; it had a subtle sense of being lived in, and it lacked the chill typical of unoccupied homes.
“You can stay here.”
Dang Mujin asked in return.
“Stay here? Can’t we see the patient now?”
“It might take two to four days. We arrived earlier than expected… But if you need anything, just let me know. I’ll do my best to get it.”
Kang Jisoo’s voice was filled with apology, as if she felt guilty for taking up their time.
“Is the patient outside the village?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then why—”
Just as Dang Mujin was about to ask again, a voice whispered in his ear.
It was Namgung Myung’s voice.
Namgung Myung was generally carefree, but unlike Hong Geolgae, he occasionally had moments of insight.
This seemed to be one of those times, so Dang Mujin nodded without pressing further.
“Alright. Let us know when you’re ready.”
“Yes.”
Kang Jisoo bowed slightly and left the house.
After her footsteps faded into the distance, Dang Mujin turned to Namgung Myung.
“Why the sudden whisper?”
“If we rush and finish the treatment right away, we’ll miss the opportunity. It’s better to wait until tomorrow.”
”…What opportunity?”
“Did you see those rocks in the corner of the village?”
Dang Mujin nodded. It was the only suspicious part of the otherwise ordinary village, so he couldn’t have missed it.
“I saw them.”
Not only Dang Mujin, but also Hyun Gong, Hong Geolgae, Yom, and Seolhwa nodded. People are generally curious by nature.
“But why those rocks?”
“There were three in a row. Doesn’t that seem odd?”
“In what way?”
“It looked like they were blocking an entrance.”
An entrance. What kind of entrance could it be?
After a brief moment of thought, Dang Mujin understood. There was only one situation where an entrance would be on a hillside: a cave.
“There’s a cave behind them? I didn’t see anything.”
“Neither did I. But not everything in the world has to be visible to exist. I have a feeling. There’s definitely a cave behind those rocks, and something valuable inside.”
It seemed Namgung Myung’s instincts, tied to his true calling, were at play.
But Namgung Myung’s instincts rarely missed the mark in such matters.
Dang Mujin clicked his tongue.
“So, you want to see what’s inside that cave?”
Normally, Namgung Myung would have nodded immediately, but this time he waved his hands in surprise.
“I’m not stealing anything. I’m just curious and want to take a look. You know my curiosity, right?”
Dang Mujin realized the reason for Namgung Myung’s reaction: Seolhwa and Yom were present.
The two of them didn’t know about Namgung Myung’s connection to thievery. Even when Namgung Myung had roamed the night streets near Dongjeong Lake twice, they remained unaware.
Dang Mujin considered exposing Namgung Myung’s reputation but decided to hold back.
“Sure. Curiosity… I get it. So, you just want to see what’s in the cave?”
“Exactly. If we finish the treatment today, we’ll have to leave the village immediately, and we won’t get a chance to explore the cave.”
In short, he had delayed the group’s schedule for his own hobby.
Dang Mujin was tempted to call Kang Jisoo back immediately, but surprisingly, Hyun Gong sided with Namgung Myung.
“Alright. A day of leisure won’t hurt. Kang Jisoo did ask us to wait a bit, so let’s do that.”
Hyun Gong’s support for Namgung Myung was straightforward.
Currently, in Hyun Gong’s mind, Namgung Myung ranked slightly higher than Dang Mujin.
In truth, Hyun Gong wanted to report Namgung Myung’s location to Namgung Jinya and send him back to the Namgung family.
In truth, it was better to have the de facto head of the Namgung family as an ally than the nominal one. The only issue was finding a way to contact Namgung Jinya without Namgung Myung noticing.
Nevertheless, having the “de facto head” as a supporter was still a significant advantage. Recently, Hyun Gong had been exceedingly humble and polite in front of Namgung Myung.
When Hyun Gong clearly stated his opinion, the atmosphere quickly shifted in that direction.
Even though Doctor Yeom was eager to check on the patient’s condition, he couldn’t go against the opinions of the other four.
Night had fallen. As Namgung Myung, who seemed to be asleep, slowly sat up, the other four, except for Doctor Yeom, also rose and took their seats.
Doctor Yeom was curious about what lay inside the cave, but he was too exhausted from the grueling march of the past day and a half and had fallen into a deep sleep.
Namgung Myung, his friends, and Seolhwa quietly left the house. Naturally, the villagers were unaware of their movements.
The five of them approached the slope where a large rock was situated. Even up close, the cave was not visible.
However, Namgung Myung pressed his ear against the massive rock and held his breath.
After a moment, he spoke in a satisfied tone.
”…I can hear the wind flowing.”
Namgung Myung wouldn’t lie about something like this.
The problem was how to move the rock and enter the cave.
The group examined the rock from various angles.
Before long, they discovered round metal handles embedded on either side of the rock.
Namgung Myung spoke confidently.
“See? It was placed here on purpose. I was right, wasn’t I?”
Judging by its height, it seemed likely that the rock was meant to be moved using animals to push or pull it.
In any case, it was clear that the large rock served as a kind of door.
Tang Mujin asked, “So how are we going to move it?”
“Well…”
Just because there were handles didn’t mean the rock could be easily pushed or pulled.
But since Namgung Myung seemed fixated on the handles, Tang Mujin suggested, “Are you planning to sneak into someone else’s house and borrow an ox to open it? Like a cattle thief?”
“Of course not!”
It seemed he wasn’t planning to reveal his hobbies in front of Seolhwa after all.
In the end, Namgung Myung proposed the simplest solution.
“There are five of us who know martial arts. We can move the rock ourselves. Let’s put some muscle into it.”
Seolhwa took a step back and yawned awkwardly.
“I’m sleepy.”
Hyun Gong hesitated between Namgung Myung and Seolhwa but eventually sided with Seolhwa.
“I’ll take Seolhwa back.”
Of course, Namgung Myung had no intention of letting them leave so easily. He blocked their path like a third-rate thug.
“Where do you think you’re going? Since we’re up, let’s get to work.”
Hyun Gong looked displeased.
Namgung Myung decided to change tactics and target Seolhwa. If he could persuade her, Hyun Gong would naturally follow.
“If something amazing comes out of there, I’ll give you my share. How about it?”
Seolhwa hesitated for a moment but then subtly moved closer to the rock. Namgung Myung’s flimsy persuasion had worked. Hyun Gong, as if he had never objected, took his position beside Seolhwa.
The five of them combined their strength to push the massive rock. With so many people crowded around it, their positions were quite awkward.
But mastering martial arts meant learning to exert strength even in uncomfortable positions.
Rumble…
The rock shifted slightly, emitting a low rumble.
It was confirmed once again that there was indeed a cave inside. Fueled by curiosity, they felt a surge of energy.
“One, two!”
They pushed the rock again with renewed vigor.
Rumble…
The rock moved significantly, revealing the cave beyond. Fortunately, the rumbling wasn’t loud enough to wake the villagers.
The rock hadn’t been pushed all the way, but there was enough space for one person to enter at a time.
Namgung Myung dusted off his hands with a satisfied expression.
“Good. We can get in. Let’s go.”
Just then, a low rumble echoed again.
”…?”
There was no reason for such a sound to occur without them pushing the rock.
‘What is it? Is there an animal inside the cave?’
The group hesitated to enter the cave and instead peered inside.
Suddenly, something came rushing out of the darkness.
A person.
A woman who appeared to be in her late middle age, not quite elderly.
Her hair was a tangled mess, making it clear she wasn’t in her right mind.
But she wasn’t just a madwoman. It was evident to anyone that she was trained in martial arts.
Her approach was anything but ordinary. She moved with a strange, unfamiliar technique, as if she were running on two legs or perhaps like a beast on all fours.
The important thing was the ferocity of her approach.
As she drew closer, her left shoulder lifted slightly, and her arm tensed. They wanted to close the rock door, but after all the effort to open it, they couldn’t just shut it and leave.
Hyun Gong shouted, “Seolhwa, Namgung Myung! Get behind me!”
Hyun Gong leaped forward, brandishing his sword to block the woman.
The woman’s left hand pushed aside the flat of Hyun Gong’s sword, while her right hand hovered around her waist.
The group knew what that meant. It was the instinctive motion of a swordsman reaching for their weapon.
Fortunately, there was no sword at her waist.
The woman changed her stance, curling her fingers to execute a precise claw technique. It was sharp enough to give even Hyun Gong a hard time.
Hyun Gong shouted, “Hong Geolgae! Tang Mujin! Help!”
Unlike Namgung Myung or Seolhwa, Hong Geolgae and Tang Mujin were clearly being treated differently. But it was clear they needed to help.
Tang Mujin drew on his poison arts. He was about to coat his chakram with a viscous poison when he changed his mind and opened the container holding the blood-sucking insects.
Unfortunately, all the insects were dead. Tang Mujin had forgotten to feed them.
”…”
He thought he might get scolded by Mok Wana, but Tang Mujin acted as if nothing had happened and took out needles, coating them with a paralyzing poison.
With a flick of his fingers, three needles flew in graceful arcs, targeting the woman’s back.
In her unstable state, the woman didn’t notice the needles coming.
When the three needles embedded in her nape, her movements noticeably slowed.
At that moment, Hong Geolgae sprang forward, leaping into the air to kick the woman, sending her tumbling back into the cave.
“Close it now!”
If Tang Mujin’s group were the heroes of some ancient legend, they would have been ready to push the rock back into place without a word. But they weren’t those kinds of people.
So Hong Geolgae took the initiative, moving to the other side of the rock to start pushing. Seolhwa and Namgung Myung joined in, straining until their faces turned red.
The rock moved with a low rumble, and soon the cave entrance was sealed again.
”…”
Instead of speaking, the group pressed their ears against the rock.
Inside, they heard a growling sound, like that of a beast.
A long silence followed.
Finally, Tang Mujin spoke up.
“That…”
He wasn’t sure what to say.
So he just said what came to mind.
“That lady seemed like a martial artist, didn’t she?”
No one disagreed. Martial artists of her caliber weren’t common.
Perhaps feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Hong Geolgae added, “Well, at least she looked healthy for someone who was supposed to be down.”
Contrary to Hong Geolgae’s expectations, the atmosphere grew even colder.