Chapter 382: The Kunlun Mountains
Tang Mujin, with his sharp intuition, had seen through Hyun Gong’s true intentions.
However, there was one thing Tang Mujin hadn’t realized: the moment he discerned Hyun Gong’s thoughts, Hyun Gong had also understood his.
Hyun Gong instinctively grasped Tang Mujin’s reaction.
The sudden shift in Tang Mujin’s demeanor, the slightly slower breathing, the gaze that seemed to fixate on some distant point in the air.
The signs were clear.
“Has Tang Mujin figured out what I’m thinking?”
It seemed that his time spent at the Tang family had honed his ability to read people.
Hyun Gong felt a sense of pride in Tang Mujin.
“Even though I let slip a bit carelessly, in the past, he would never have caught on. He’s grown.”
Yet, Hyun Gong wasn’t flustered.
Even if Tang Mujin had made some progress, in Hyun Gong’s eyes, his understanding was still rudimentary.
“Even if he’s recently had some insights, it’s not enough for him to be confident in his judgment. Besides, I didn’t leave any concrete evidence, so smoothing over the situation shouldn’t be difficult.”
With a calm voice, Hyun Gong addressed Tang Mujin.
“Tang Mujin, want to come with me to the blacksmith?”
“No, I don’t really…”
As expected, Tang Mujin’s response was lukewarm. Hyun Gong, unfazed, continued.
“Really? Well, you do take good care of your sword, so I suppose it doesn’t matter. I just thought I’d drop by since I have the chance.”
“For what reason?”
“I forgot to get a new whetstone, so I haven’t been able to properly maintain my sword. You never know what might happen, so it’s better to keep the blade sharp. I also need to buy a new hairpin.”
A hairpin is a small item used to secure a topknot. The finest ones are made of jade, ivory, or precious metals, but ordinary people often use cheaper wooden or metal ones.
“A hairpin…”
Hyun Gong’s mention of the hairpin was a calculated move to unsettle Tang Mujin and stir up feelings of guilt.
Tang Mujin recalled the time Hyun Gong had given a precious hairpin to a stranger.
He then remembered the small amount of food and water they had received in return, and how he had shared that food without a second thought.
Tang Mujin instinctively studied Hyun Gong’s expression.
But there was no trace of ulterior motive on Hyun Gong’s face. Not even a hint of regret. Tang Mujin felt a tightness in his chest.
“Why did I doubt Hyun Gong? He’s a bit sly, but he’s not selfish…”
Feeling a sharp pang of guilt, Tang Mujin placed a hand on Hyun Gong’s shoulder.
“Ah… never mind. Let’s go to the blacksmith together. Since we’re talking about it, I should tend to my sword too. I’ll take a look at yours while I’m at it.”
“That would be great. I just need to buy a new hairpin.”
Hyun Gong accepted Tang Mujin’s offer with an innocent expression, deepening Tang Mujin’s guilt.
In the end, the imitator can never surpass the original. Hyun Gong had won a subtle victory.
The next day, Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong left the village with Mr. Lim.
Mr. Lim, showing his goodwill, even prepared provisions for their journey. Of course, he charged a small fee, but taking care of such bothersome tasks without profit was a clear act of kindness.
Not long after they left the village, Tang Mujin asked Mr. Lim a question.
“How far do we have to go?”
“All the villages within a three-day radius have been thoroughly picked clean. As you head northwest, there are rumors of more madmen and demonic cultists, so people tend to scour the closer areas first.”
“Hmm.”
It seemed the locals were convinced that the martial artists wandering around Qinghai Province were from the demonic cult.
It wasn’t hard to guess the origins of martial artists roaming the sparsely populated Qinghai Province.
If their features were unfamiliar, they were from the Western Regions; if they looked like Taoists, they were from the Kunlun Sect; if neither, they were likely demonic cultists.
Mr. Lim continued his explanation.
“Villages about five or six days away should still have some pickings. It’s a bit far for those who haven’t mastered martial arts, like us.”
Mr. Lim seemed certain that Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong hadn’t learned martial arts.
Tang Mujin’s sword was hidden in his pack, and Hyun Gong’s sword was so plain that it seemed like a cheap self-defense weapon to the untrained eye.
“Beyond that distance, it’s probably a no-man’s land. It’s dangerous, but there’s also more to gain. That Huang fellow found a gold bracelet out there.”
Mr. Lim’s eyes gleamed with greed as he spoke. No doubt, he was imagining a few pack animals laden with goods.
“Which direction do you plan to take?”
“I think west is best. Towards the Kunlun Mountains. What do you think?”
It was the answer Tang Mujin had secretly hoped for.
However, he feigned indifference and asked for the reason.
“The Kunlun Mountains, huh. Any particular reason?”
“I once saw the Taoists of the Kunlun Sect, and they were truly impressive. Their swordplay was incredibly fast, and they moved as if flying through the air. Even the madmen and demonic cultists wouldn’t dare act up in front of them.”
“Hmm. Is that so.”
Tang Mujin nodded along, but he doubted the Kunlun Sect martial artists were actually holding back the demonic cultists.
If the situation were that manageable, the wandering Taoist wouldn’t have been so desperate for help.
Mr. Lim continued.
“Anyway, it’s always good to have reliable people to turn to in case of danger. The more, the better. The Kunlun Sect Taoists are said to be kind-hearted, so they won’t turn us away.”
“That’s a wise decision.”
With Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong’s agreement, Mr. Lim seemed quite pleased.
Then Mr. Lim turned the question to them.
“By the way, what brings you two all the way out here?”
Tang Mujin gave a vague answer.
“I used to work as a doctor in my hometown, and this guy lived in the mountains. We heard there was money to be made here.”
“You were playing coy yesterday… I figured as much. There’s no other reason to come to such a remote place. Brother Tang, where are you from?”
“Chengdu.”
“I thought so. Your accent isn’t from around here. And Brother Gong seems to be from even further away.”
“That’s right. I’m from Hubei.”
“Wow, you came from that far? You’re more impressive than you look!”
Mr. Lim was a good travel companion.
Though a bit greedy, he wasn’t trying to take advantage of Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong, so it wasn’t a problem.
He was easygoing, enjoyed both talking and listening, and even reacted enthusiastically to mundane stories, making it fun to converse with him.
As they followed Mr. Lim’s lead, they inevitably came across deserted villages, where they could easily find drinking water from wells.
The three of them traveled with such enjoyment that they almost forgot the dangers.
A few days later.
Mr. Lim emerged from a small building, shaking his head.
“This village is a bust too…”
The journey remained comfortable.
They occasionally spotted demonic cultists in the distance, but never had any direct encounters.
The problem was that their gains weren’t meeting expectations.
They had found a couple of jade rings with a decent shine in the empty villages, but it wasn’t enough to buy the pack animals Mr. Lim had hoped for.
As a result, Mr. Lim grew greedier, and the three of them ended up much farther than originally planned. They were now close enough to feel the presence of the Kunlun Mountains.
Of course, for Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong, whose destination was the Kunlun Mountains, this was a good thing.
Night had fallen.
The three of them settled into a small thatched house next to a tiled one, preparing to rest and, as always, began chatting again.
During their conversation, Mr. Lim lowered his voice, as if suddenly frightened.
“Hey, can you promise me one thing?”
“What kind of promise?”
“If we ever run into someone with a large scar across their chest… if I can’t escape, just kill me and go.”
Mr. Lim spoke with a grim expression, his eyes fixed on Hyun Gong’s sword.
Hyun Gong asked back.
“Who is this person?”
“They say there’s a fiend who assaults anyone, regardless of age or gender, and that’s what he looks like. If you’re caught, they gag you and tie your limbs so tightly that you can’t even die to escape the torment.”
Mr. Lim shivered as he spoke.
Seeing how terrified he was, Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong could only nod. Though they knew they wouldn’t be in much danger if such a situation arose.
After finishing their meal, the three of them lay down to sleep in the thatched house.
As time passed and only the sound of soft breathing filled the air, Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong’s ears perked up.
They sensed an unfamiliar presence.
”…It’s finally here.”
Lying still, Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong exchanged glances with their eyes barely open.
And then, moments later, the door to the thatched house burst open.
Bang!
The loud noise startled Mr. Lim awake, and he sat up in alarm, while Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong smoothly rose to a sitting position.
There was only one intruder.
He was well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. In his left hand, he held a torch aloft.
If it had been an ordinary intruder, Dang Mujin would have swiftly dealt a lethal blow. But there was a reason he hadn’t immediately killed this one.
Mr. Im was clearly startled, but his voice was tinged with confusion as he spoke.
“A… woman?”
“What? Got a problem with that?”
The unexpected intruder, a woman, frowned as she replied.
Even with her scowl and the dim lighting, her features were strikingly beautiful.
But the three men weren’t just surprised because she was a woman.
Thanks to the flickering torchlight, they caught a glimpse of a long scar running across her chest and collarbone.
”…!”
Indeed, there was no rule that said a seductress had to be a man.
Mr. Im’s expression turned dreamy, lost in thought.
Blocking the doorway, the woman tossed a rope to the three men.
“Decide among yourselves. Two of you tie your wrists and ankles. The other one, come with me.”
Mr. Im asked, his voice filled with an inexplicable anticipation.
“Why are you doing this?”
The woman smirked.
“I’ll give you an experience you won’t forget.”
Suddenly resolute, Mr. Im picked up the rope from the floor and crept towards Dang Mujin and Hyun Gong.
“Why are you doing this?” Dang Mujin asked.
Mr. Im whispered, his voice as small as an ant’s.
“I’ll buy you some time. You two find a chance to escape. I’ve lived my life, but you’re too young to die here.”
Hyun Gong, with a hint of mischief, remarked, “That woman seems like the seductress you mentioned earlier. Didn’t you say you’d rather die than be caught?”
Mr. Im shook his head.
“That’s situational. If I can buy you time, you might survive. Just do as I say.”
Even in the tense situation, Mr. Im’s transparent desire almost made Dang Mujin and Hyun Gong burst into laughter.
The woman, overhearing their whispers, grew impatient.
“What are you mumbling about? Hurry up!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Mr. Im tried to tie Hyun Gong and Dang Mujin’s hands and feet, but his hands were too shaky from nerves, and the two men subtly resisted, making it difficult.
“Hold still for a moment.”
“Could you tie it a bit looser?”
“If it’s any looser, they’ll notice… Hmm.”
As the situation dragged on, the woman, irritated, stepped inside.
“What’s taking so long?”
Hyun Gong chuckled.
“May I ask you something?”
“What?”
“If everything goes well, will you let us live?”
“I’m not set on killing you. But no one’s survived so far.”
The woman laughed, her muscular arms belying her feminine appearance.
“So, in the end, everyone dies.”
“That’s how it turns out.”
“May I ask one more thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Don’t you think you’re standing a bit too close?”
”…?”
The woman didn’t understand what Hyun Gong meant.
The distance between Hyun Gong and the woman was about half a step.
Hyun Gong wasn’t skilled in attack, but his defense was exceptional.
Defense meant not allowing anyone into your space.
Many had died trying to breach the half-step radius around Hyun Gong. Even warriors far superior to this unknown seductress couldn’t easily penetrate it.
In the next moment, the woman realized Hyun Gong was holding a sword in his right hand.
“When did you draw your sword?”
Hyun Gong grinned.
“You should’ve asked when I swung it.”
Simultaneously, blood spurted from the woman’s neck.
As she clutched her throat in bewilderment, Mr. Im shouted involuntarily.
“No, don’t!”
“What’s the problem, sir? You’ll get yourself killed.”
“Ahhh!”
So great was his disappointment that Mr. Im didn’t even register Hyun Gong’s impressive skill.
Hyun Gong awkwardly patted Mr. Im on the back.
“Calm down. You’ll find new opportunities.”
“Ahhh…”
Meanwhile, Dang Mujin caught a whiff of something burning.
”…?”
Peeking outside, he saw that the torch the woman had brought had set the thatched roof ablaze. It seemed the fire had started even before she entered the room.
“Get out!”
If it had been a wooden or tiled roof, it might have been different, but extinguishing a fire on a thatched roof was nearly impossible.
The three men hurriedly gathered their belongings and rushed outside. Not long after, the thatched house was engulfed in flames.
“Ah… oh no…”
Mr. Im looked at the burning house, tears welling up as he gazed at the bodies inside. Even Hyun Gong felt awkwardly apologetic.
“I’m sorry. But we should get moving.”
Mr. Im wiped his tears and assessed the situation.
In the dark night, the burning house cast a bright glow around them.
Silhouettes approached from all directions. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Mr. Im trembled and blamed Hyun Gong.
“See? We should’ve let that seductress kill us!”
Dang Mujin chuckled.
“Why die?”
“Why? Look! There are at least six or seven people coming!”
Without responding, Dang Mujin waved his arms in the darkness.
In a short time, four of the approaching figures collapsed, ceasing to move. It seemed something had rolled off their necks.
Mr. Im, unable to comprehend what had happened, stared blankly at Dang Mujin.
Dang Mujin raised his hands, and four blood-stained steel rings flew into his grasp.
Holding the four bloodied rings, Dang Mujin reassured Mr. Im.
“We’re not dying today.”