Defense
The next morning, the group’s atmosphere seemed as normal as ever—at least on the surface.
However, the information Namgoong Myung had confirmed the previous night was already shared among Tang Mujin’s party.
As they finished breakfast and began to move, the leader of the group, So Sang-gakju, pulled out a small flute from his sleeve and played it.
Once again, no sound was heard, but soon enough, Baekmocho appeared, circling around them.
Today, however, Baekmocho’s behavior was slightly different. Its tail fluffed up as it glared towards the southwest.
So Sang-gakju exclaimed, “Fluffing its tail like that means it’s spotted a target! Could Baekhyang-a be in the southwest?”
But Baekmocho’s actions didn’t stop there. It shifted its gaze to the southeast, crouching low like a cat stalking prey, hiding among the bushes.
So Sang-gakju feigned surprise again. “Crouching and hiding is also a sign of spotting a target! Hmm. Something’s off. But it’s clear Baekhyang-a is either southwest or southeast.”
That couldn’t be. The previous night, Namgoong Myung had confirmed Baekhyang-a’s location was due south. So Sang-gakju must have done something to Baekmocho.
Unaware that the group had already pinpointed Baekhyang-a’s location, So Sang-gakju subtly revealed his intentions. “We should check both the southwest and southeast. You all head south…”
Tang Mujin’s judgment was quicker than Namgoong Myung’s or Hong Geolgae’s.
Before So Sang-gakju could finish, Tang Mujin had already seen through his plan.
‘They’re trying to avoid Baekhyang-a by sending us south while they head southwest and southeast.’
Tang Mujin wasn’t the only one who reached this conclusion. Hyun Gong had already interrupted So Sang-gakju.
“In that case, why don’t you two head south?”
“Uh…?”
“My group is larger and faster. We’ll scout the southwest and southeast and report back if we find Baekhyang-a.”
“But we…”
“No need to strain yourselves. Didn’t you mention feeling unwell yesterday? Even if a night has passed, illnesses can resurface. It’s best to avoid any risky situations.”
So Sang-gakju looked at Hyun Gong with a puzzled expression. ’…Who is this guy?’
Hyun Gong’s response was reasonable and considerate, typical of a righteous martial artist. Yet, his precise insight was suspicious.
But insisting on changing directions would only raise more suspicion.
Reluctantly, So Sang-gakju nodded. ”…That sounds wise. Contact us immediately if anything happens.”
“Understood. See you later.”
So Sang-gakju and Daebyeok-gakju slowly began moving south.
Tang Mujin’s group appeared to split towards the southwest and southeast, only to regroup a short distance away.
Even as they regrouped, Hong Geolgae seemed confused by the situation.
“I get that So Sang-gakju is up to something, but why go through all this trouble?”
Hyun Gong answered, “We need to confirm So Sang-gakju and Daebyeok-gakju’s relationship with Baekhyang-a. If they’re truly enemies, it doesn’t matter. But if they’re in cahoots, they might plot something if we clash with Baekhyang-a.”
The best way to avoid betrayal is to ensure the enemy can’t strike from behind.
For now, Tang Mujin’s group had distanced themselves from the two leaders, watching their actions from afar.
A short while later.
So Sang-gakju and Daebyeok-gakju moved a bit before settling down. Having claimed poor health, their slow pace wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
So Sang-gakju asked Daebyeok-gakju, “Do you think those youngsters have caught on to our plan?”
“I can’t say for sure, but they seem suspicious.”
So Sang-gakju clicked his tongue, displeased with the situation not going as planned.
“True, it’s not certain yet. But if they suggest splitting roles the same way tomorrow, they likely know. We should consider retreating. We can always return in a few days to retrieve Baekhyang-a’s remains.”
“Right… But there’s one concern.”
“What is it?”
“If we retreat, won’t they do the same? If they pass by without clashing with Baekhyang-a, it would be problematic. Who knows when we’ll get another chance like this?”
For Daebyeok-gakju, it was a surprisingly astute observation.
But So Sang-gakju waved it off lightly. “No need to worry. Neither the young lady nor Hyun Gong’s group will ignore Baekhyang-a. They’ll clash to retrieve the Everlasting Ice Crystal and the secret manual. Even if Baekhyang-a has already consumed the Ice Crystal.”
“What if they see Baekhyang-a’s skills and flee?”
“They won’t. They’re young and numerous, so they’ll try to fight. Besides, didn’t Hyun Gong seem smitten with the young lady? I’ve never seen a young man back down in front of a woman he’s interested in.”
Daebyeok-gakju nodded. So Sang-gakju’s predictions were rarely wrong.
Their conversation paused.
Daebyeok-gakju sharpened his senses, checking for any eavesdroppers. Apart from the faint breeze, there was nothing.
So Sang-gakju asked, “What are you doing?”
“Just checking for any listening ears.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve been on alert too. No one’s here.”
Hyun Gong and his group were said to be righteous martial artists.
If they were from the demonic sects, maybe. But righteous fools wouldn’t have mastered stealth techniques to eavesdrop on seasoned leaders like them.
So Sang-gakju and Daebyeok-gakju spent a bit more time before getting up.
“We should move a bit to avoid suspicion.”
Another day passed without incident.
Neither So Sang-gakju and Daebyeok-gakju nor Tang Mujin’s group clashed with Baekhyang-a.
Another night passed, and a new day dawned.
After a simple breakfast, So Sang-gakju watched Tang Mujin’s group busily clean up.
Traveling with young folks meant he didn’t have to handle tedious tasks himself.
‘Time to get started.’
So Sang-gakju reached into his sleeve, intending to summon Baekmocho with the flute and gauge Seolhwa and Tang Mujin’s reactions.
But his hand found nothing.
‘Huh?’
The flute to summon Baekmocho was gone.
So Sang-gakju stood up, shaking his sleeve and searching the area. The flute was nowhere to be found.
Losing anything else was fine, but not the flute. Missing Baekhyang-a’s trail would render all their efforts futile.
As So Sang-gakju panicked, Daebyeok-gakju approached.
“What’s wrong?”
“The flute is gone!”
“The one for Baekmocho?”
“Yes!”
“Didn’t you already use it?”
“What nonsense…”
“Look, Baekmocho is here.”
Daebyeok-gakju pointed to the white-furred marten, Baekmocho.
Baekmocho, with its tail fluffed and body crouched, was staring at them.
As they wondered why, a familiar figure emerged behind Baekmocho.
A familiar face, but not one they wanted to see here.
It was Baekhyang-a.
Baekhyang-a glared at them with fiery eyes, holding a small flute in her left hand.
‘Why is that there…?’
A sinking feeling in his chest.
Yet, simultaneously, a thought of relief crossed So Sang-gakju’s mind. They had allies nearby, didn’t they?
“Hey…!”
So Sang-gakju called out, looking around.
But Tang Mujin’s group, who had been cleaning up after breakfast, had vanished.
The only people in sight were Daebyeok-gakju and Baekhyang-a.
So Sang-gakju felt as if he’d been struck on the back of the head with a metal club.
‘What is happening…?’
Reality felt distant. Too many questions arose.
Why was the flute, which should have been in his sleeve, in Baekhyang-a’s hand?
Why was Baekmocho looking at them as if it had found someone marked with the tracking scent?
He had no answers.
So Sang-gakju’s pondering was cut short.
“I’ll kill you!”
Baekhyang-a charged at So Sang-gakju and Daebyeok-gakju.
‘There’s no chance of winning.’
So Sang-gakju’s judgment was quicker than Daebyeok-gakju’s.
He used his most advanced footwork, Extreme Night Step, to position himself behind Daebyeok-gakju, then pushed him towards Baekhyang-a with all his might. Daebyeok-gakju’s eyes widened in shock as he lost his balance.
“Youuu-!”
The Great Wall Master tried to shout something at the Small Wall Master, but he didn’t have the luxury of time.
Without looking back, the Small Wall Master fled with all his might, using his light-footed skills.
It didn’t matter how the Great Wall Master viewed him. Although the Great Wall Master was exceptionally skilled among the top martial artists, he wouldn’t withstand Baek Hyang-a’s attack for long.
“Aaaah, aaaaah!”
The Great Wall Master’s furious roar turned into a scream, which soon faded away.
A faint sound of something being ‘torn’ could be heard. Baek Hyang-a’s grudge against the Great Wall Master was that deep. Surely, the grudge against the Small Wall Master was no less intense.
A chill ran down his spine. There was no way he could smell blood from this distance, yet it felt as if he could.
‘Please, don’t follow me!’
The Small Wall Master sprinted, dodging small obstacles, not caring about conserving his inner strength or stamina. He was running for his life, something he had never done before.
His legs ached, making it hard to move.
He staggered a few more steps and collapsed against a thick tree trunk, gasping for air.
Huff, huff.
But before he could catch his breath, a strong arm suddenly reached out from somewhere and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.
”···!”
Thud.
The Small Wall Master, who had been sitting on the tree stump, tumbled to the ground unceremoniously.
A thought flashed through his mind.
‘Could it be? Did Baek Hyang-a follow me here? I didn’t sense anything!’
Lying on the ground, he instinctively covered his head with his arms. He knew it was pointless, just a reaction born out of fear.
Peering through his arms, he saw a face that wasn’t Baek Hyang-a’s. It was Tang Mujin and his group of four, along with Seolhwa, looking down at him.
Startled, the Small Wall Master shouted.
“What… What are you doing here?”
Hyun Gong chuckled.
“Why do you think? We knew you’d come here, so we waited.”
“You knew I’d come here? How?”
“We smeared tracking incense on the back of the Great Wall Master’s head and left a flute on Baek Hyang-a’s path. We figured you wouldn’t die alongside the Great Wall Master, given your nature. You’d run, and if you ran in the opposite direction of Baek Hyang-a, you’d end up here.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
The remaining tracking incense and flute had been in the Small Wall Master’s sleeve until yesterday morning.
Even if they had somehow found the flute and incense, there was no chance to apply the incense to the Great Wall Master.
Since yesterday morning, both the Great Wall Master and the Small Wall Master had been suspicious of Tang Mujin’s group. They hadn’t even slept, staying awake all night.
But contrary to the Small Wall Master’s belief, their vigilance was in vain.
Namgung Myung had stolen the tracking incense and flute from the Small Wall Master before sunset and applied the incense to the Great Wall Master’s head before evening.
Neither of the masters could detect Namgung Myung’s presence.
Tang Mujin sat on the tree stump where the Small Wall Master had been and crossed his legs, looking down at him with an indifferent expression.
“Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter. You. Yesterday, you told the Great Wall Master you needed Baek Hyang-a’s corpse.”
Tang Mujin’s words were undeniable proof.
Someone from Tang Mujin’s group had been close to the Great Wall Master and the Small Wall Master, yet neither had noticed.
The Small Wall Master could only gape, unable to respond. Tang Mujin didn’t press for an immediate answer.
He continued.
“Seolhwa doesn’t know why you need Baek Hyang-a’s corpse, but I have a hunch.”
Tang Mujin recalled Mok Wana.
Specifically, the night before he left the Tang family, the night he spent with Mok Wana.
Nature wasn’t created for humans.
Powerful elixirs and potent herbs don’t exist for human use.
Thus, to use herbs on the human body, they undergo a process called preparation.
Steaming, boiling, roasting, and drying them to make them suitable for human consumption.
However, because elixirs are so rare, the methods of preparation aren’t well known. If the effects of a precious elixir are lost during roasting, it would be a great loss.
So martial artists often consume elixirs without processing them.
The human body is astonishingly mysterious and intricate.
If a skilled martial artist can withstand an elixir, it transforms into a form suitable for human use.
Mok Wana endured the poison of the Inmyeonji Lord first and then passed the refined poison to Tang Mujin for this reason.
Tang Mujin couldn’t withstand the raw poison from the Inmyeonji Lord’s sac. But once it had been tempered by a human, he could handle it.
So Tang Mujin thought.
Perhaps Baek Hyang-a unwillingly took on Mok Wana’s role.
The Small Wall Master and the Great Wall Master might have wanted to absorb the power of the Eternal Ice Crystal through Baek Hyang-a’s corpse.
Tang Mujin spoke to the Small Wall Master.
“I’ll give you one last chance to defend yourself.”
“If I tell the truth, will you spare me?”
Tang Mujin shook his head.
“No.”
“Then, what’s the point of defending myself?”
The Small Wall Master asked.
Tang Mujin looked him straight in the eyes and said.
“To die, of course. You need to convince me to let you die.”