Thanks to the explanation from Seolhwa of the Northern Plains, Tang Mujin and his companions had a rough idea of the situation. However, one crucial issue still lingered for the group.
“Mujin, what are we going to do about the Gongdong Sect?”
”…Let me think about it.”
The Gongdong Sect had faced numerous hardships recently.
In a short span, their leader had changed three times, and many disciples had either died or been crippled.
The area around the Gongdong Sect had become a major battlefield in the war between righteous and demonic factions, forcing them to abandon their grounds and seek refuge with other sects.
To make matters worse, just when they thought the trials were over, the sect had split into two.
Moreover, the relationship between the Taoists of Gongdong Mountain and those led by Sang-gwal was clearly strained, making it hard to find any positive aspects.
Currently, the Gongdong Sect was in a position not much different from any other mid-tier sect, aside from its long-standing tradition.
And now, the final trial for the Gongdong Sect was approaching.
Though the sect members were unaware, the future of the Gongdong Sect hinged on Tang Mujin and his companions’ decision.
‘Rumors about Baek Hyang-a’s connection with the Demonic Cult have spread through Guiwang’s testimony.’
Tang Mujin and his group could use the pretext of some members being entangled with the Demonic Cult to wipe out Gongdong Mountain.
They weren’t too worried about the aftermath. The Taoists of Sang-gwal and those staying in Gyeju would likely support their actions.
People would see this not as an internal conflict within the Gongdong Sect, but as a battle between the Demonic Cult’s pawns and the righteous martial artists.
They had more than enough strength. Half a day would be sufficient to sweep through Gongdong Mountain.
Everything was in place. Yet, Tang Mujin still wasn’t sure.
‘Just because we can, does it mean we should?’
His friends waited silently for Tang Mujin to make a decision.
Finally, after much deliberation, Tang Mujin spoke.
”…It’s better if we just leave.”
“Why? We don’t know how many of Baek Hyang-a’s or the Demonic Cult’s pawns are mixed in with the Gongdong Sect.”
“That’s true. But we can’t predict what will happen afterward.”
“Afterward? Sang-gwal will cover for us, so there’s no need to worry.”
“I’m not talking about our safety.”
Tang Mujin wasn’t concerned about repercussions for himself or his friends.
Rather, he was worried about the potential impact on the Gongdong Sect, the nearby villages, and the broader relationship between the righteous and demonic factions.
Tang Mujin asked Hyun-gong, “Hyun-gong, what do you think will happen if the Gongdong Sect disappears?”
Hyun-gong understood the weight of Tang Mujin’s question and pondered longer than usual.
But soon, he too shook his head.
“I don’t know. No one in the world could possibly know.”
“Exactly. That’s the problem.”
While Hong Geol-gae seemed indifferent, Namgung Myung was different.
Namgung Myung asked Tang Mujin and Hyun-gong, “We’re not talking about wiping out the entire Gongdong Sect, right? Just Gongdong Mountain, leaving Sang-gwal and Gyeju’s part intact.”
“But if we do that, there’s no guarantee the Gongdong Sect will survive.”
At first glance, it might seem that even if the Taoists of Gongdong Mountain were wiped out, the sect could rise again. Like a small spark that can quickly engulf a large building if there’s enough fuel.
But Tang Mujin, being a blacksmith, knew that even sparks have their limits.
A spark too small might not reignite and could simply die out. That was the current state of the Gongdong Sect.
Even now, it was uncertain if the Gongdong Sect could continue. If they were to lose half of their strength again, what would become of them?
Tang Mujin and Hyun-gong reached a similar conclusion.
The Gongdong Sect was likely to be annihilated. And the void left by their absence could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Tang Mujin decided to wrap things up.
“We’ve stopped external interference. The rest should be handled by the Gongdong Sect themselves.”
Tang Mujin buried the body of the foreign man they had set aside in a pit and poured two drops of Fire Bone Powder.
Smoke rose dramatically from the body, but since it was still early and the sun hadn’t risen, no one noticed.
Before long, the body would vanish, leaving only small traces and scraps of clothing.
After covering the body with dirt, Tang Mujin and his companions left Gongdong Mountain and headed north.
Though a minor incident occurred at Gongdong Mountain, their destination remained unchanged.
They were heading to the place where it was said a martial artist had died from the Yin Cold Qi. To the distant north.
Though the season was moving towards summer, the path they walked grew colder.
They entered an inn, quickly unpacked, ordered a meal, and began chatting.
“Crossing the Yellow River doesn’t faze me anymore.”
“Same here.”
In the past, crossing the Yellow River into the demonic territory would have put them on edge, but now it was just routine.
They had crossed the Yellow River more than once, and they realized that nothing particularly eventful happened just because they crossed it.
Of course, as they moved north, the villages became more barren, and the people’s hearts grew colder.
But that wasn’t because the demonic martial artists’ malice had spread across the land. It was simply because the region received little rain, making farming difficult, leaving people’s granaries and hearts lacking.
With scarce resources and tight hearts, conflicts increased, and those conflicts made the northern people’s temperaments rougher, concluded Tang Mujin.
Listening to Tang Mujin, Seolhwa spoke up.
“Even if the granaries are empty, people’s hearts can still be generous.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If you go further north from this grassland, the weather gets much colder. Everyone has to wear thick fur. Farming is impossible. But the people there are actually kind. They’ll invite strangers into their homes, offering food and shelter.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“Because only those who are generous survive.”
Seolhwa shared stories of the far north.
The cold that freezes fish as soon as they’re pulled from the lake. The harsh life. Sudden snowstorms.
Even if you lived comfortably yesterday, tomorrow you might face life-threatening conditions. That’s the north.
“This place is cold and harsh, but it’s still more dangerous because of people than nature. But further north, nature becomes more fearsome than people. To survive against the mighty forces of nature, people have to band together. Only then can they survive when nature gets angry. People have no choice but to grow closer.”
Seolhwa said this as she snuggled up to Hyun-gong.
Even with the attention of Tang Mujin’s group and the inn’s patrons focused on them, Seolhwa showed no hesitation in her actions.
”…”
These days, the situation between Hyun-gong and Seolhwa could be summed up simply.
They were having the time of their lives.
Whenever they entered an inn, Tang Mujin still booked a separate room for Seolhwa.
But he knew that Hyun-gong would sneak into Seolhwa’s room. Sometimes, they would disappear outside the inn together.
Interestingly, it was Seolhwa who took the lead in their relationship, not Hyun-gong. Seolhwa’s expressions of affection were unabashed. It seemed the relationships between men and women in her culture were quite different.
While the others slowly ate, Hyun-gong and Seolhwa quickly finished their meal.
When Seolhwa gently tugged on Hyun-gong’s arm, he stood up and said, “We’re going to get some fresh air.”
Of course, it wasn’t a request for permission but a simple announcement. There was no need to ask for permission in the first place.
As Hyun-gong and Seolhwa slipped out of the inn, Hong Geol-gae voiced his discontent.
“That Hyun-gong, a supposed Taoist, getting caught up in romance…!”
Though his words were critical, anyone could see the envy in his tone.
Tang Mujin shook his head.
“We should understand and support him. Hyun-gong is a bachelor. He’s thirty this year.”
Hyun-gong was two years older than Tang Mujin and Hong Geol-gae.
For a man, reaching twenty meant he was of marriageable age, and he would often hear about the need to marry and continue the family line.
Martial artists tended to marry later due to their focus on training, but even so, thirty was considered quite late.
Hong Geol-gae voiced his dissatisfaction again.
“If Hyun-gong is a bachelor, then what am I?”
”…”
Tang Mujin had a family, and Namgung Myung had a significant other. Hyun-gong was in the throes of a passionate romance.
But there was one person. Hong Geol-gae remained pure.
He had no romantic partner, nor any interaction with the opposite sex. He knew that many in the Beggars’ Sect never married, but that wasn’t the future he wanted.
Tang Mujin thought for a while and then came up with a fitting expression.
“You are… well, you’re unique. Like a lone star. How about that?”
Whether or not “lone star” was the right term didn’t matter much, as neither Tang Mujin nor Hong Geol-gae had much understanding of Buddhist scriptures.
“Unique or not, it doesn’t matter. I just wish I had someone by my side…”
As Tang Mujin’s group laughed and chatted, a loud voice came from a nearby table.
”…I saw the martial arts of a supreme master! As soon as he drew his sword, a biting wind blew, and when the sword touched, the whole body froze with a crackling sound! And when he kicked, it shattered to pieces!”
The speaker was a merchant, his face flushed with drink. Having traveled through the north and the western regions, he had arrived at the inn with a camel, not a horse or donkey.
The merchant used dramatic sound effects to vividly describe the scene.
On any other day, they might have dismissed it as nonsense, but Tang Mujin and his companions couldn’t ignore the story. Neither could the other patrons in the inn.
There had been too many tales of martial artists freezing to death.
Tang Mujin, Namgung Myung, and Hong Geolgae rose from their seats as if on cue and approached the merchant. However, the merchant was already trying to change the subject.
“Oh, right, the last time I was in the Western Regions…”
“Sir, could you tell us more about that martial arts story you mentioned?”
Tang Mujin interrupted, cutting straight to the point.
The merchant, bleary-eyed from drink, squinted at them and frowned.
“You young ones think you can just interrupt an elder like that? No manners at all…”
“If you need payment for the story, we’ll gladly pay. Or perhaps we could cover your tab?”
Any other storyteller might have jumped at the offer, but the merchant’s reaction was different.
“Do I look like I need money? I’m a great merchant who travels beyond the desert to Persia!”
The merchant spoke with great bravado, but his bodyguard beside him couldn’t hide his unease.
Though Tang Mujin’s group had been quietly sitting in the corner, the bodyguard had been aware of them since they entered the inn.
The merchant’s claim of being a great merchant might not have been a lie, given the unusual skill level of his bodyguard.
It was rare for a martial artist of such caliber to serve as a bodyguard, even with a hefty salary.
The bodyguard gently grabbed the merchant’s arm and whispered, “Sir, please calm down. You’ve had too much to drink.”
His desperate glances at Tang Mujin’s group were almost pitiful.
Unfortunately, the merchant was too drunk to realize who was speaking.
“Calm down? Do you think I’m a joke? You might end up getting beaten by my bodyguard! Do you know how strong he is? I hang bandits’ heads from camel tails! Wang Ho! Wang Ho!”
He even shook off the bodyguard’s restraining hand, shouting for him.
Watching someone make a fool of themselves when drunk can be infuriating or amusing.
This was clearly the latter, especially with the bodyguard looking so desperate.
“Sir! Please calm down!”
“Where’s Wang Ho? Wang Ho!”
Finally, the bodyguard, Wang Ho, made a decision.
With a determined shout, he swung his fist and knocked the merchant out cold onto the table.
It was a response Tang Mujin’s group hadn’t anticipated.
”···.”
There were gentler ways to handle the situation, like pressing acupoints, but it seemed Wang Ho wanted to make a more dramatic gesture in front of them. It was surprisingly effective.
Wang Ho turned to Tang Mujin’s group and said, “Please don’t be offended. The old man has a good heart, but his drinking habits are terrible.”
Tang Mujin waved it off. “It’s fine. But is it really okay for a bodyguard to hit his employer?”
Wang Ho looked relieved at Tang Mujin’s understanding demeanor.
“It’s fine. It’s not the first time. Besides, a true bodyguard must do whatever it takes. If I ignored him and something happened, that would be a bigger problem.”
The way he referred to the merchant as “our old man” suggested a bond beyond mere employment.
“You seem incredibly skilled. It’s unusual for someone like you to be a bodyguard.”
“I owe the old man a great debt from my youth. I’ve been repaying it by serving as his bodyguard ever since. If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”
Wang Ho bowed deeply, showing humility reminiscent of Hyun Gong. Perhaps this is what Hyun Gong would be like with a sense of loyalty.
“There’s no need to worry. Anyway, about the ice martial arts story the merchant mentioned earlier. Could you tell us more?”
“Ah, the old man spoke as if he saw it himself, but he only saw the bodies on the way here.”
“Ah…”
As Tang Mujin’s group expressed their disappointment, Wang Ho continued.
“But even I could tell the bodies were unusual. If you walk a bit outside the village, you can see them for yourself. Would you like to?”
Intrigued, Tang Mujin nodded.
“We’d appreciate that. Could you spare a moment?”
“Of course…”
Tang Mujin’s group rose with Wang Ho and headed out of the inn.
“···Phew.”
Despite it being summer, the weather was cold enough for snow to fall even at midday, so Tang Mujin’s group bundled up before stepping outside.
As Wang Ho had said, the bodies weren’t far.
They reached the location after a short sprint using their light-footed martial arts.
Wang Ho pointed to a dense thicket.
“The bodies were in there.”
The thicket had a noticeable depression where something had fallen.
But something was off. Normally, a dead body would emit a foul odor, but there was none.
‘Is it because of the cold?’
The group approached the thicket. Indeed, a body lay atop the foliage.
But the state of the body was bizarre.
When someone freezes to death, the body turns black and becomes grotesque after repeated freezing and thawing.
“This is…”
Even those unfamiliar with martial arts had heard rumors of an ice martial arts master.
The body was remarkably intact, except for being shattered into pieces like broken ice.
The body was fragmented, yet it hadn’t decomposed and retained its form. It hadn’t turned black either. The cleanly frozen cross-sections were eerily pristine.
There was no need to consult Seolhwa. This wasn’t a natural occurrence due to the cold.
It wasn’t something that could be achieved with ordinary or even advanced ice martial arts.
Tang Mujin recalled the tales of the Three-Eyed Buddha.
’…Has a true monster appeared?’