Chapter 370: An Unexpected Guest
The rumors about the martial prowess of the Demon Cult’s leader were impressive, yet the sense of danger Tang Mujin felt was vague and indistinct.
It wasn’t that he doubted the words of the Green Forest leader. It was more that the reality seemed too far-fetched.
“Has the Demon Cult leader reached the level that the divine monk once showed?”
Tang Mujin thought he needed to prepare more thoroughly for the upcoming Great War between the righteous and the demonic factions. He glanced around, noticing that his Green Forest subordinates had already slipped away.
Merchant Wang and the warriors he hired showed little interest in the Green Forest underlings. Capturing such small fry wouldn’t bring any benefit.
Tang Mujin nudged the Green Forest leader with his foot.
“Get up. Lead us to where the captives are.”
With the limping Green Forest leader in front, Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae headed towards where Wang Ho was held. Merchant Wang followed cautiously behind them.
The Green Forest leader pointed to a spot a little distance away.
“Over there.”
Wang Ho was tied to a large rock.
To be precise, his ankles were shackled with thick chains connected to the rock, but he didn’t seem to be in any serious condition.
However, he was clutching his head, seemingly suffering from a severe headache, with his head bowed low.
Beside him lay the unconscious Surakum Geum Ilseop, who had been dragged away.
Tang Mujin asked the Green Forest leader.
“What’s your name?”
”…Maga Deung.”
“Alright, Maga Deung. Are these the only two you captured?”
“Yes? Yes. As you can see.”
Wang Ho, hearing Tang Mujin and Maga Deung’s voices, lifted his head.
Upon spotting Merchant Wang, he jumped up in surprise.
“Sir!”
“Oh, Wang Ho!”
Wang Ho couldn’t hide his joy, but as Merchant Wang approached, he visibly retreated with caution.
Merchant Wang, puzzled, asked, “Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
“I’ve been practicing a suspicious martial art, and recently I’ve been suffering from headaches. Sometimes my mind becomes clouded, and anger and murderous intent surge within me, making it hard to maintain my sanity.”
Merchant Wang looked at Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae in distress.
Likewise, Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae turned their gaze to Maga Deung.
“It seems you’ve already taught Wang Ho some martial arts?”
The Green Forest leader, clutching his bleeding thigh and side, was startled and hurriedly explained.
“Yes. I taught him the scriptures and martial arts I learned from the Demon Cult. I couldn’t use the incense the leader used, as I don’t know what it was…”
As Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae’s expressions darkened, Maga Deung quickly added an explanation.
“Oh, great heroes. I know I’ve committed a sin, but my situation was desperate… Please understand.”
Maga Deung’s situation was indeed pitiable. He had left the Demon Cult to suppress his rising murderous intent. It was hard not to feel some sympathy.
Moreover, his actions during the fight weren’t particularly cruel, suggesting that Maga Deung wasn’t inherently evil. But a crime was still a crime.
‘If he had died in battle, it would be one thing, but killing him now seems excessive.’
Tang Mujin pondered how to deal with the leader, then sighed deeply.
Meanwhile, Wang Ho and Merchant Wang were putting on a melodramatic scene.
“Sir, I don’t think I can follow you anymore.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright.”
“It’s not alright. If I lose my mind while traveling with you, it will surely lead to a terrible outcome.”
Merchant Wang sat down with a despondent expression.
Wang Ho was alive, but the situation was at an impasse. He couldn’t leave Wang Ho, whom he considered like a son, nor could he take him along.
In his heart, he wanted to continue traveling together, but the potential consequences were too frightening.
To be precise, he wasn’t afraid of being harmed by Wang Ho, but rather that Wang Ho might cause trouble and then be consumed by guilt.
He couldn’t just tell Wang Ho to find his own way, either. If Wang Ho committed a crime and was caught by other martial artists, he would most likely be killed.
Merchant Wang pondered for a long time but couldn’t come up with a suitable solution.
In the end, he decided to deal with what he could first.
Merchant Wang spoke to Hong Geolgae.
“First, I should reward you. Without a doubt, you’ll receive the largest share. Your friend here will get a bit too… I don’t think anyone would object.”
Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae nodded in agreement. It would be surprising if anyone demanded a larger share than them in this situation.
Merchant Wang continued.
“By the way, could you take Wang Ho and me back to the village we met? I’ll compensate you separately for that.”
True to his merchant nature, he was precise in his calculations. Most people would ask for such a favor without expecting anything in return.
“Of course.”
Tang Mujin agreed and swung his sword, cutting through the chains binding Wang Ho’s ankles in one swift motion.
Wang Ho, finally able to see Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae’s faces, looked a bit surprised.
“What are you two doing here…?”
Explaining would take too long. Tang Mujin gave Wang Ho a reassuring smile, then pondered the situation of Wang Ho and Merchant Wang, coming up with a good idea.
Tang Mujin asked Merchant Wang.
“By the way, sir, what will you do from now on?”
It was a question that could be seen as unnecessary meddling, but Merchant Wang didn’t take offense.
“I’ll have to think deeply and come up with something. But I don’t think I’ll be traveling to the Western Regions as I used to. It’s becoming too exhausting to move for months at a time.”
“Would you like to stay with Wang Ho?”
“Of course, I would. The problem is finding a suitable way…”
“You won’t be traveling to the Western Regions, but you’re too young to retire.”
“That’s right.”
Tang Mujin subtly suggested to Merchant Wang.
“How about working with me? I can solve the issue with Wang Ho.”
“Do you have a solution?”
“Of course.”
After months, he was finally on his way home.
Tang Mujin decided to bring a gift for Dan Seolyeong, who was busy managing the affairs of the Tang family.
Once just a humble peddler, he had become a merchant reaching even the Western Regions.
Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae, along with Merchant Wang, Wang Ho, and Maga Deung, entered Sichuan Province.
Occasionally, Maga Deung and Wang Ho showed signs of madness, but it never escalated into a major issue.
Whenever Hong Geolgae brandished his staff, their madness visibly subsided.
“By the way, is it true that you’re the head of the Tang family?”
“Do you know the Tang family?”
“Of course. As a merchant, I always keep my ears open.”
Unlike Wang Ho or Maga Deung, Merchant Wang was familiar with the Tang family.
He didn’t know much, just the name, but it was intriguing that a merchant traveling to the Western Regions knew of the Tang family.
A few days after entering Sichuan, the group arrived near a high mountain.
Though Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae didn’t mention the mountain’s name, Merchant Wang, Wang Ho, and Maga Deung could easily guess where they were.
There was a large temple on the mountainside, and they occasionally saw nuns.
”…Isn’t this Mount Emei? Is the Tang family located near here?”
“The Tang family is a bit further away. It’s in Chengdu, to be precise.”
“Then why have you come to Mount Emei…?”
“Just follow us. You’ll find out soon enough.”
As Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae led the three into the Emei Sect’s grounds, the nuns greeted them with a light bow.
Receiving such a welcome from the renowned Emei Sect was no small feat.
Wang Ho and Maga Deung, as well as Merchant Wang, who wasn’t a martial artist, were visibly tense.
Tang Mujin asked a passing nun.
“Where is Master Hyangbaek?”
“She should be in the main hall. Please follow me.”
The nun naturally led the way for Tang Mujin’s group.
Merchant Wang lowered his voice and asked Tang Mujin.
”…Who is Master Hyangbaek? Judging by the title, she seems to hold a high position.”
“She’s the head of the Emei Sect.”
”…”
Without any prior appointment, they were being led to the head of the Emei Sect as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
This wasn’t something achievable merely by having high martial prowess. The nuns were treating Tang Mujin as an equal or even superior to Master Hyangbaek.
Merchant Wang’s estimation of Tang Mujin rose even higher.
“But why are you visiting the head of the Emei Sect?”
“I have something to ask. Ah, we’ve arrived.”
Tang Mujin lightly clasped his hands in a gesture of respect to the nun who had guided them and entered the main hall. It was a quiet time, as the prayers had just ended.
Master Hyangbaek looked at Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae with wide eyes.
“Tang benefactor. It’s been a while. What brings you here?”
“Is there still space in the underground chamber of Geumjeong Pavilion?”
“There’s always room.”
A short while later, Maga Deung was confined in the underground chamber of Geumjeong Pavilion.
Just as Tang Mujin had been when he had succumbed to inner demons.
Excluding Maga Deung, the four of them left Mount Emei and entered Chengdu, where the Tang family was located.
However, Wang Ho couldn’t shake off his lingering anxiety.
”…Maga Deung will be practicing the Clear Mind Technique at the Emei Sect?”
“Yes, the Cheongsang Technique has the ability to expel the negative energy that has seeped into the marrow. If you practice it slowly over time, there will surely be improvement.”
Dang Mujin had brought Maga-deung to the Amipa sect because he hoped Maga-deung could rid himself of his madness and become a normal person. Simply killing him off seemed too harsh, as Maga-deung wasn’t inherently evil.
Wang Ho spoke up, his voice lacking confidence. “In that case, wouldn’t it be better for me to stay at Amipa with Maga-deung? It seems wiser to complete the Cheongsang training together and then leave…”
Dang Mujin chuckled lightly. “I can teach you the Cheongsang Technique myself. It’s not particularly difficult.”
A thought flitted through Wang Ho’s mind—how did Dang Mujin know the Amipa’s martial arts? But it wasn’t a question that needed immediate answering.
Wang Ho asked another question. “Then why is only Maga-deung confined at Amipa?”
“Because he committed a crime. The Golden Pavilion also serves as a prison. But you, Brother Wang, haven’t committed any crime, so there’s no reason for you to be imprisoned.”
Wang Ho inquired further, “Does the Dang family have a prison?”
“There is no prison at the Dang estate. Even if there were, I wouldn’t think of imprisoning you.”
Just then, Wang Ho noticed a tall, imposing wall. Instinctively, he realized it was the wall of the Dang estate.
His steps noticeably slowed. “Isn’t that a problem? It’s fine when you’re around, but you can’t always be with me. And since Master Hong is leaving soon, it means you’ll have to keep an eye on me constantly…”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Isn’t that a bit too complacent?”
Dang Mujin looked at Wang Ho, whose expression was more anxious than displeased. “What if I lose control and cause chaos while you’re away? The Dang estate could be in ruins.”
“Haha!” Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae burst into laughter, as if they’d heard a funny joke.
But Wang Ho couldn’t shake his urgency. He was seriously considering whether he should return to Amipa immediately.
“I’m not joking. My skills may not match yours, but they’re not insignificant.”
Ignoring Wang Ho’s concerns, Dang Mujin laughed a bit more and pushed open the large gate with a grin. “Chaos, you say? Feel free to try.”
As the gate opened in the late evening, dozens of people inside the Dang estate turned to look at Dang Mujin and his companions.
Wang Ho, tense, surveyed his surroundings and finally understood what Dang Mujin meant.
After introducing Merchant Wang and Wang Ho to Dan Seol-young, Dang Mujin retreated to his room.
A quiet, dark room.
Stretching, he moved to light the lamp. As he did, his foot nudged something small.
Thud.
“Did I leave something behind?”
After lighting the lamp, he looked down to see what he’d kicked. It was a pouch, slightly larger than a fist, and its shape was all too familiar.
With trembling hands, Dang Mujin opened the pouch. Inside, it was filled with silver and gold coins.
Indeed, his travel pouch had arrived at the Dang estate before he did.
It was truly astonishing. To lose his travel funds at the start of his journey and recover them at its end.
Dang Mujin took a deep breath.
”…”
He had never understood why people were so eager to catch the “Divine Thief.” Though the thief stole, they almost always returned the items, so what was the big deal?
But in this moment, Dang Mujin fully grasped the frustration of those who sought to catch the thief.
“I really want to give them a piece of my mind.”