Chapter 381: The Road to Kunlun Mountain
Tang Mujin and Hyungong set off directly for Qinghai Province.
The first few days were a struggle, trudging under the scorching summer sun and through the humid air. But gradually, the terrain began to rise, and the weather cooled noticeably with each passing day.
After about four more days, it felt like autumn had arrived. The days were pleasantly cool, perfect for walking, but the nights were chilly enough to require a blanket.
They had entered the region commonly referred to as Qinghai Province.
Adjusting his clothes, Hyungong remarked, “I heard Qinghai was cool, but I didn’t expect the weather to change so suddenly.”
“You talk as if it’s your first time here,” Tang Mujin replied.
“It is my first time.”
Tang Mujin eyed Hyungong skeptically. “Didn’t you act like you knew a lot about the Kunlun sect’s dojos before?”
“You don’t have to visit a place to know about it. It’s like how we know about the Murong family without ever having been there. Anyway, which way should we go to find a village?”
Tang Mujin gazed at the horizon of Qinghai. It wasn’t a perfect horizon, as bluish mountains loomed in the distance. But they were so far away that they might as well have been part of the horizon.
He hesitated to answer, unsure of the village’s direction. It had been years since his last visit to Qinghai, and he hadn’t exactly been sightseeing back then.
In truth, Tang Mujin had been moving with a false sense of confidence, assuming they’d eventually run into someone who could point them in the right direction.
But five days into Qinghai, they hadn’t encountered a single soul.
Admitting ignorance in front of Hyungong was out of the question. So, with a hint of uncertainty, Tang Mujin pointed northwest.
“That way, I think.”
“Think?”
“It’s been so long, my memory’s a bit hazy. I haven’t been here often… But I’m pretty sure it’s that way.”
“When was the last time you were in Qinghai?” Hyungong asked.
“About seven or eight years ago. Why? Is there a problem?”
Expecting Hyungong to tease him, Tang Mujin spoke with a defiant air. But to his surprise, Hyungong simply nodded seriously.
“Problem? Not at all. It’s impressive. Most people couldn’t guess the direction after so long.”
Hyungong’s unexpectedly positive attitude left Tang Mujin feeling uneasy. Men rarely praise each other to their faces, especially friends. But asking why he wasn’t being teased seemed odd, so Tang Mujin let it go and continued northwest.
They walked northwest for three more days.
Their food ran out the night before, and now they were running low on water.
Tang Mujin grew increasingly anxious about their direction, but Hyungong never questioned him, silently following along.
As they trudged on, parched and weary, Tang Mujin’s ears perked up. He sensed someone approaching from the southwest.
Turning to look, he saw a man who appeared to be a merchant, carrying a pack and heading their way. Forgetting his pride, Tang Mujin waved and approached the merchant.
“Excuse me, sir!”
The merchant started at the sight of Tang Mujin but seemed relieved, sensing they meant no harm.
“What is it?”
“Could you help us with directions?”
“Sure. Where are you headed?”
“Anywhere we can find food and water…”
The merchant clicked his tongue, pointing in the direction he had come from.
“Tsk, tsk. If you’re looking for a village, you should head southwest, not northwest. It’ll take you at least two weeks to find a village going that way.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Why wander around so confidently without knowing the way? Young people these days are too reckless.”
Embarrassed, Tang Mujin lowered his head slightly, expecting Hyungong to mock him.
But instead of teasing, Hyungong pulled out an ornate hairpin from his pocket and offered it to the merchant.
“Sir, could we trade this for some food and water?”
The hairpin looked valuable enough to fetch a gold coin, and the merchant eyed it suspiciously.
“Food and water? Sure, I can trade for that… But once we trade, I can’t give it back.”
“We’re in urgent need, so we won’t ask for it back. If you want, I can even offer my sword.”
As Hyungong moved to offer his sword, the merchant waved his hands dismissively. The hairpin alone was more than enough; taking the sword might invite trouble.
“No need for the sword. The hairpin will do.”
“Ah, alright…”
A hint of disappointment crossed Hyungong’s face.
The merchant handed over enough food and water for three days, pocketed the hairpin, and quickly disappeared.
Tang Mujin and Hyungong sat down to satisfy their hunger and thirst before setting off southwest.
As they walked, Tang Mujin couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer and asked Hyungong, “Why so quiet?”
“Why do you ask?”
“By now, you’d usually be teasing me.”
“I have no reason to tease you.”
Hyungong glanced at Tang Mujin and said, “Everyone makes mistakes. But not everyone can swallow their pride and ask a stranger for help. Admitting a mistake and correcting it takes humility and flexibility, qualities not everyone possesses.”
Despite the days of wandering in the wrong direction, Hyungong’s words were unexpectedly complimentary.
Tang Mujin’s unease deepened.
‘This guy must want something.’
He asked Hyungong, “Did you do something wrong to me?”
“Wrong? Not that I can think of.”
“Then do you want something from me?”
“No. I’m just grateful you’re accompanying me to Kunlun Mountain.”
Tang Mujin eyed Hyungong with suspicion, but Hyungong’s expression remained unchanged.
Of course, Hyungong had his reasons for the flattery.
Before finding Ban-yeop, Hyungong hoped to acquire a new sword from Tang Mujin. That way, when he reclaimed the Songmun Ancient Sword, he’d have two fine swords.
But he hadn’t asked Tang Mujin to make him a new sword yet.
Everything has its time. Rushing things could ruin them.
Following the merchant’s directions for about a day, they finally reached a village. It seemed to house around two to three hundred people.
In the village center stood an inn, surprisingly large for such a small settlement.
“Looks like we found the right place.”
A large inn in a small village usually meant one thing: a high volume of passing merchants.
Yet, the stable next to the inn was completely empty. Not a single pack animal, mule, or unattended cart was in sight. In contrast, the inn itself was bustling with activity.
Creak—
As Tang Mujin and Hyungong pushed open the creaky door and entered, the patrons turned their attention to them.
The inn was indeed crowded, and everyone seemed to carry a crude sword.
Interestingly, few appeared to have any martial arts training. Those who did seemed to have only basic skills.
Once Tang Mujin and Hyungong took a seat, the inn quickly returned to its lively chatter.
Tang Mujin turned to Hyungong. “Isn’t this a bit strange?”
“Yeah. Why do merchants have swords?”
People tend to carry an aura that reflects their profession. Warriors have a certain presence, as do craftsmen and farmers.
Merchants, too, have their own distinct vibe. Small-time merchants often wear slightly flashy yet practical clothes, and they tend to have a meticulous, sometimes irritable demeanor.
To Tang Mujin and Hyungong, most of the people in the inn, despite carrying swords, looked like merchants.
Hyungong struck up a conversation with a middle-aged man sitting nearby.
“Excuse me, may I ask you something?”
The man eyed Hyungong with suspicion, clearly wary.
This wariness meant it would take Hyungong about a quarter of an hour to win him over and become friendly.
If the man had been someone like Jang Il-nam, who was less prone to suspicion, Hyungong could have charmed him five times over and gained a new family member in the process.
The merchant, munching on dumplings Hyungong had bought, began to speak.
“Find the merchants’ appearance odd? So, you’re not from around here, are you?”
“That’s right. I visited a long time ago…”
As Hyungong made small talk and refilled the man’s drink, the merchant chuckled contentedly.
“Well, not many locals around here, so it’s no surprise you don’t know.”
The merchant had taken to calling Hyun-gong “Brother Gong” before they knew it. Naturally, Tang Mujin was “Brother Tang.”
“What happened here?” Hyun-gong asked.
“If you head a bit west from here, you might run into some madmen. If you’re leisurely wandering with a donkey and run into them, you’re in big trouble.”
“Madmen? Are they bandits?” Tang Mujin inquired, lowering his voice as the merchant set the scene.
“Bandits would be preferable. These are deranged martial artists. Not all of them are completely insane, but their actions are hardly different from madness.”
“What do they do that’s so terrible?”
“It varies. Some kill indiscriminately, while others assault anyone they come across, regardless of age or gender.”
Tang Mujin and Hyun-gong shuddered involuntarily. Assaulting anyone, regardless of age or gender—it was a fate worse than a sword fight.
The merchant continued, “It’s best to avoid them altogether. If you do encounter them, you have to run for your life, so you can’t afford to be slowed down by a donkey.”
Tang Mujin recalled the leader of the Green Forest bandits he had encountered on his way back to the Tang family estate with Hong Geolgae. Wasn’t his name Ma Ga-deung? He was likely still trapped beneath Mount Emei.
Ma Ga-deung had mentioned that learning martial arts from the cult leader of the Demonic Sect could make one’s temperament volatile and difficult to control. The martial arts were powerful and could be mastered quickly, but many lost their sanity in the process. He had said that if he hadn’t stopped in time, he might have ended up the same way.
While Tang Mujin was lost in thought, Hyun-gong was nodding along with the merchant’s story.
“So, you have to run rather than fight them. They must be quite skilled.”
“Indeed. If a fight breaks out, you can expect to either die or be assaulted. Some people hire top-tier bodyguards and manage to escape unscathed, but if they’re unlucky enough to encounter a particularly skilled madman, even a top-tier bodyguard is useless. I’ve heard there are quite a few of those wandering around.”
Tang Mujin and Hyun-gong found the terms “top-tier” and “supreme-tier” martial artists rather awkward.
However, Hyun-gong didn’t show it and refilled the merchant’s cup, probing for more information.
“With such people roaming around, isn’t the government doing anything?”
The merchant downed his drink in one go and scoffed.
“The government? This isn’t a densely populated area like Henan or Shaanxi. You’d be lucky to find a village after days of walking. The government has essentially given up. But because of that, people looking to make a quick fortune have started gathering here.”
Tang Mujin asked, “Make a fortune, you say?”
The merchant gestured to the people around them with his chin.
“If you go west from here, there are villages that have been wiped out by those martial artists. Many villages are deserted as people flee. The wealth left behind belongs to whoever picks it up.”
“Ah.”
Like crows drawn to the scent of blood, wealth and opportunity always follow in the wake of death.
Tang Mujin thought the people gathered in this village resembled crows.
The merchant continued, “The big merchants know the risks, so they avoid this area and travel far north. But for a peddler like me, who can’t even afford a mule, this place is a land of opportunity. Just recently, a fellow named Hwang found a gold bracelet and bought three pack horses before leaving.”
The merchant, now quite drunk, muttered enviously about the pack horses. He seemed to covet them greatly.
With a hazy expression, the merchant lowered his head for a moment, then suddenly looked up and scrutinized Tang Mujin and Hyun-gong.
“Brother Gong and the one next to you… what was your name again?”
“Oh, this is Brother Tang. He’s the one I look up to.”
Of course, Tang Mujin wasn’t actually his elder. In fact, Hyun-gong was two years older than Tang Mujin. Tang Mujin’s suspicions about Hyun-gong deepened.
“Well, Brother Tang, you both seem capable. Would you consider heading west with me? I’m a local here, so I know the location of most villages. Unlike others who keep ransacking the same places, I can find untouched villages.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Mujin found the offer intriguing, though not for the wealth.
The land known as Cheonghae was vast. In the past, travelers were common enough that there was no need to worry about food or water. But now, with so few people passing through, finding Mount Kunlun without a guide was no easy task.
More than food, they needed someone who knew where to find water.
Hyun-gong, gauging Tang Mujin’s reaction, spoke up.
“Alright, let’s do that.”
“Ah, wise choice. If we stick together, at least not all of us will die if something happens.”
It seemed the plan was to sacrifice a few to escape if madmen appeared, rather than fight them off together.
To an ordinary person, martial artists were such beings—impossible to overcome, even with combined strength.
Hyun-gong rubbed his palms together and asked the merchant, “By the way, sir, what is your name?”
“Just call me Mr. Lim.”
“Understood, Mr. Lim. Is there a place in this village where we can buy supplies? Like a fabric shop or a blacksmith?”
“There are both, though given the situation, they might not have much stock.”
“Got it.”
The conversation between Hyun-gong and Mr. Lim ended without much fanfare.
However, the mention of a blacksmith stood out to Tang Mujin.
In his mind, a small version of Hyun-gong whispered, “Hey, Tang Mujin. Why would Hyun-gong need a blacksmith?”
Of course, there was no reason.
Tang Mujin, already suspicious of Hyun-gong, could see through his intentions.
Hyun-gong was surely planning to have something made.
The small Hyun-gong in Tang Mujin’s mind whispered, “Tang Mujin, never do anything for free if you’re good at it. That’s the way to live.”
The little Hyun-gong in his mind betrayed the real Hyun-gong without a moment’s hesitation.