Chapter 342: News from the Tang Clan
Tang Mujin had suddenly shut himself away, refusing to leave his quarters. It was the third day of his self-imposed house arrest when Dan Seol-young decided to pay a visit to Hong Geol-gae.
“Hey, Hong Geol-gae.”
“What?”
“Do you know what’s going on with Tang Mujin?”
“No idea.”
Dan Seol-young’s eyes narrowed at Hong Geol-gae’s immediate response.
“Is that it? Just ‘no idea’? Go find out.”
“Why should I?”
“Neither I, Mok Wan-ah, nor even Father-in-law knows what’s going on with him. Not even Uncle Chu Sam, the doctors, Seok Ji-seung, or the blacksmiths have a clue. It’s probably something to do with martial arts, right?”
As always, Dan Seol-young’s reasoning was hard to argue with.
Hong Geol-gae mumbled reluctantly, “I guess so. But wouldn’t it be better if you asked him yourself? You are his wife, after all.”
“If it’s about martial arts, what do I know? The most I can do is a simple breathing technique and some basic light footwork.”
“Hmm…”
“Just go and ask him what’s going on, alright? Now, get up!”
Fearing that the conversation might turn to the topic of meal expenses if he argued further, Hong Geol-gae trudged off towards Tang Mujin’s quarters.
To his surprise, the door wasn’t locked.
“I’m coming in.”
There was no response, but Hong Geol-gae entered anyway.
Tang Mujin was sitting against the wall, lost in deep thought.
Hong Geol-gae plopped down in front of him and asked, “What’s going on?”
After a moment of hesitation, Tang Mujin began to recount his experiences from the recent martial arts competition.
Hong Geol-gae listened intently, his playful expression gradually turning serious, almost solemn by the end.
When Tang Mujin finally finished his lengthy tale, Hong Geol-gae spoke in a grave tone.
“Remember when I said something stupid about how a master can’t be at the pinnacle?”
“What about it?”
“That nonsense about how a pinnacle master isn’t really a master. But they are, right? Everyone says so. Don’t you agree?”
”…”
“As you know, a pinnacle master is respected everywhere. Most sect leaders are pinnacle masters. The head of the Emei Sect, the current leader of the Qingcheng Sect, and even the venerable Hua Hua Nogae are all pinnacle masters. And no one complains about that. It’s just people like Namgung Myung and Hyun Gong who are a bit unusual. There’s no need to feel down by setting your standards too high.”
Hong Geol-gae’s sincere attempt at comfort only made Tang Mujin feel more uneasy.
Unaware of Tang Mujin’s inner turmoil, Hong Geol-gae continued, “You’re still young. You’ve got a bright future ahead. Who knows, with time, you might find a way to become a supreme master. Right?”
Though they were the same age, Hong Geol-gae’s tone was oddly reminiscent of an elder consoling a junior.
Tang Mujin recalled a saying: when a close friend stops teasing and starts offering serious comfort, things must be truly dire.
Yet, Hong Geol-gae was right about one thing: there was no need to set the bar too high. Tang Mujin’s situation was different from his friends’.
‘After all, unlike those who only think about martial arts, I’m a well-rounded person. If I surpass them in martial arts too, that would be unfair.’
Tang Mujin was skilled in medicine and metallurgy, had a family, and had established his clan before turning thirty. He was pursuing both poison arts and hidden weaponry simultaneously. There was no need to be disappointed if his martial prowess lagged slightly behind his friends.
In fact, thinking he was behind in martial arts was a bit odd. Tang Mujin believed he could hold his own against Hong Geol-gae. Of course, Hong Geol-gae might have a different opinion, but that didn’t matter.
Tang Mujin casually brushed it off. “Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t sulking in my room; I just needed time to sort things out.”
“Really? I was worried for nothing.”
With a sigh of relief, Hong Geol-gae left.
Though Tang Mujin had left his quarters, a part of him remained unsettled.
He could accept being a step behind his friends in martial arts for now. But not even glimpsing the path to the next level was unacceptable. The desire to reach the supreme pinnacle was hard to shake.
After some thought, Tang Mujin headed to Sam An-bul’s quarters.
In the backyard, he heard the faint sound of metal clashing.
There, he found Jang Il-nam and Namgung Jin-cheon sparring with swords.
Their blades clashed a few times in mid-air before the tips met and stopped, as if two points were touching. It was a curious sight, happening not once but three times in succession.
Tang Mujin sat beside Sam An-bul, puzzled. “What’s going on here?”
“Il-nam is deliberately matching sword tips to disrupt the flow of the spar. It’s like playing mimicry Go; it gets boring, and they usually stop.”
“Is that really like mimicry Go? If I were the Sword Demon, I’d be intrigued and keep challenging him.”
“I think so too. It’s not a skill just anyone can replicate.”
“Is Master Jang’s achievement higher than the Sword Demon’s?”
“Hard to say. If the Sword Demon went all out, Il-nam wouldn’t be able to respond like that.”
Not long after Tang Mujin arrived, the sparring ended inconclusively.
Both Jang Il-nam and Namgung Jin-cheon were lightly sweating, indicating the spar had been quite intense.
As they caught their breath, Tang Mujin explained the darkness he had seen in his mind to the three supreme masters and asked, “In such a situation, how can I step into the next realm?”
Namgung Jin-cheon was the first to respond, but his answer was unsatisfying. “That’s not a question we can answer definitively.”
“I’ve heard that when crossing into the supreme realm, one can see a path. Isn’t there a method to find it?”
Namgung Jin-cheon shook his head. “The path is just the most common vision. Not everyone sees it. And it’s not the same for everyone. The form of the path, the way to find it, and the way to step onto it all differ. What works for one might not work for another.”
Sam An-bul shared his experience. “Namgung Jin-cheon is right. I never saw a path. Instead, I felt a crushing weight, like a massive boulder, and ascended to the heavens by chanting a mantra, eventually finding enlightenment with the scent of lotus flowers.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Mujin’s mind grew more tangled, but one thing was clear.
“But there must be some clue to advance to the next realm, right? Like the sound of chanting or the scent of lotus flowers.”
“Indeed.”
“Why didn’t I have any clues?”
“That, I cannot say.”
Jang Il-nam interjected with a suggestion. “Perhaps Mujin’s skills aren’t mature enough to grasp the clue to the next realm?”
“Maybe. Or maybe not. It’s hard to tell.”
Jang Il-nam’s response, Sam An-bul’s response, even Namgung Jin-cheon’s response were all frustratingly vague.
It was understandable. Tang Mujin didn’t practice conventional martial arts like fist techniques or swordplay. Even the eyes of those who had taken a step further struggled to gauge Tang Mujin’s level.
In some ways, he seemed comparable to the supreme masters, yet in others, he seemed like an average pinnacle master.
His hidden weaponry skills alone were at that level, so understanding his poison arts was even more challenging.
But Tang Mujin found solace in this uncertainty.
‘This might be for the best. It means there’s still potential.’
Perhaps, as Jang Il-nam suggested, his achievements were too middling to find the clue to the next realm.
If he trained diligently for months or even years, maybe next time he’d find a clue, whether it be a floral scent or a path.
It stung his pride that Hong Geol-gae had found a clue while he hadn’t, but it was far better than being left behind forever.
And now, he had someone who could help.
Tang Mujin humbly addressed Namgung Jin-cheon. “Master Namgung Jin-cheon, may I occasionally request a spar?”
Namgung Jin-cheon’s response was unexpected. “I can spar with you, but it won’t be of much help.”
“How can you say that? You easily granted me enlightenment before.”
“You’re hoping I’ll create another ‘opportunity’ for you, aren’t you? But creating such an opportunity through that method can only happen once.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it relies on the threat to your life and the desperation it brings. If I show you the same sword technique again, would you feel as desperate as last time?”
”…”
“That’s impossible. You can’t just forget the last duel. Even if my sword grazes your hair and touches your scalp, you’ll still believe it’ll stop.”
It was a story that made sense.
Yet, Dang Mujin, grasping at straws, asked again.
“Isn’t there any way to try again? Maybe we could get lucky twice. Perhaps with a slightly more daring swing…”
“It’s pointless. Besides, I can’t keep doing it. I’m planning to leave the Tang family estate soon.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
Though it’s said that all gatherings must end in parting, the news of Namgung Jinchun’s departure felt strange to Dang Mujin.
People rarely left the Tang estate once they entered, for whatever reason. Not Dansulyeong or Mokwana, and even the three friends had settled in quietly. The martial artists from the Demonic Sect and Jang Il-nam had also made it their home.
“When I came to Sichuan, I had four goals. I’ve already passed through the Emei Sect and reached the Tang estate, so now I plan to head to the Qingcheng Sect.”
“Four goals… So Qingcheng isn’t the end. Where will you go next?”
“I’ve heard there’s a ‘Divine Thief’ in Sichuan. I’ll find him and take his head.”
“What?”
Dang Mujin and Sam Anbul managed to keep their expressions in check, but Jang Il-nam was different. He was so shocked he covered his mouth with both hands. Fortunately, Namgung Jinchun didn’t suspect him.
Feigning ignorance, Dang Mujin asked, “Do you have some kind of grudge against this ‘Divine Thief’?”
“Not really. But if he’s called a ‘Divine Thief,’ he must have amassed a fortune. I’ll take all his money and treasures and send them to the Namgung family. It should help the young and inexperienced head of the family. What else can a stern father do for his son?”
It was a truly touching display of fatherly love.
But everyone except Namgung Jinchun knew the truth, so they couldn’t say anything. They just hoped Namgung Myung wouldn’t get caught and lose his head.
You can replace a lost arm with a prosthetic, but you can’t attach a prosthetic head to a beheaded Namgung Myung.
Dang Mujin subtly probed Namgung Jinchun.
“The Divine Thief is elusive, and no one knows what he looks like. What if you can’t catch him? You don’t plan to stay in Sichuan forever, do you?”
Luckily, Namgung Jinchun wasn’t overly fixated on the Divine Thief.
“Then it can’t be helped. I’ll seek out the ‘Fiery Lotus’ for a duel and then head to the Demonic Sect.”
“You’re going to the Demonic Sect?”
“Yes.”
He probably didn’t mean to join them. Dang Mujin asked in a trembling voice, “What do you plan to do there?”
Namgung Jinchun didn’t answer. Instead, he flashed a childlike, innocent smile.
Time passed, and spring arrived in full bloom.
Before long, Tang Young accepted Dang Mujin as her father, and Tang Yiryeong and Tang Haewon no longer cried in his arms.
Like polishing away grime, Namgung Jinchun’s martial prowess soared day by day.
He easily overpowered Jang Il-nam and soon became an equal match for Sam Anbul.
Then, with a brief farewell, Namgung Jinchun left the Tang estate.
“It would be nice to meet again.”
“Take care.”
Around the same time, a connection that had grown distant reappeared.
Hyun Gong, who had quietly vanished to Chongqing, returned to the Tang estate with Seolhwa. It was only then that Dang Mujin realized Seolhwa had been missing too. He was sure it was just Hyun Gong who had disappeared initially.
As soon as Hyun Gong saw Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae, he spoke.
“It’s been a while. Have you made any progress?”
The fact that Hyun Gong brought up progress right away meant he had achieved some enlightenment.
But before Dang Mujin could respond, Hong Geolgae nudged Hyun Gong with his elbow.
When Hyun Gong looked at him, Hong Geolgae lowered his head and mumbled a message.
Don’t talk about martial arts in front of Mujin for a while.
Why?
Mujin might never reach the pinnacle. He’s hit a wall.
Hyun Gong’s mind raced.
‘If I rate my martial prowess at nine points and my background at nine, Dang Mujin’s background is about nine and a half.’
‘But if he can’t reach the pinnacle, his martial prowess is about seven points?’
‘His poison skills are rare, and his non-lethal techniques are quite formidable, so add half a point. His medical and metallurgy skills could add another half point. That makes eight points.’
‘My total is eighteen points. Dang Mujin’s is seventeen and a half. The gap will only widen from here.’
It was a historic moment.
For the first time, Hyun Gong’s mental ranking placed Dang Mujin below him.
‘Still, with his talents and background, he could make a good subordinate.’
Hyun Gong looked at Dang Mujin with a subtle, meaningful expression.
It was a smile that perfectly reflected the half-point superiority and the future gap.
Dang Mujin’s rational mind didn’t fully grasp the meaning of that smile, but his right fist instinctively understood.
His fist cut through the air.
Thud.
But Dang Mujin’s punch was caught by Hyun Gong’s hand.
Hyun Gong’s hand even held newfound strength.
Dang Mujin hesitated, wondering if he should draw his weapon, when he noticed something.
Seolhwa, standing next to Hyun Gong, had a very serious expression.
Considering Seolhwa’s usual absent-minded demeanor, something was definitely up.
“Seolhwa, is something wrong?”
In response to Dang Mujin’s question, Seolhwa answered with surprisingly clear pronunciation.
“It seems a thief has appeared.”