Chapter 393: The Pride of Seongdo
As they made their way back, Tang Mujin turned to Hyungong with a question.
“Do you think Guangyeomra and Zuo Huofa will betray their leader for us after all this?”
“Unlikely,” Hyungong replied without hesitation. Tang Mujin glanced at him, prompting Hyungong to elaborate.
“The key is that we’ve left them with a glimmer of positive possibility. No matter how small, such possibilities can’t be ignored. It’s surprisingly difficult to let them vanish.”
Hyungong’s explanation was vague, leaving Tang Mujin struggling to grasp its full meaning.
“We’ve aligned with them for now, but I’m not sure what that really accomplishes. We haven’t exactly found a critical weakness.”
“It does have significance.”
“What kind of significance?”
“Imagine if the martial strength of the Tang family, the Qingcheng Sect, and the Emei Sect were equal. If the cult’s warriors had to break through one of these to advance, which would they choose?”
The question required no thought.
“Only the cult members would know that.”
“True. But if Guangyeomra were leading them?”
”…They’d likely avoid attacking the Tang family.”
“Exactly. Guangyeomra and Zuo Huofa will steer clear of the Tang family if they can, to preserve that positive possibility, that hope of survival even if things go awry. They won’t antagonize you without reason.”
Hyungong continued, “If it came to causing significant harm to the cult, Guangyeomra and Zuo Huofa would choose their leader over us. But in a balanced situation, or if the harm is negligible, they’ll act in a way that favors the Tang family and the Wudang Sect. We’ve inserted a small, shaky stone into the dam of the cult.”
“That’s quite an achievement for just a few words.”
“Indeed. Having a real conversation is important too. We’ve started seeing each other not just as orthodox and cult warriors, but as humans. Dialogue has become possible.”
Tang Mujin finally began to understand Hyungong’s intentions, though one thing still bothered him. Hyungong spoke of seeing each other as humans, yet Tang Mujin doubted he truly viewed Guangyeomra and Zuo Huofa as such. Hyungong’s hatred for the cult’s warriors ran deeper than most realized, and it seemed to be growing.
They continued their conversation as they strolled leisurely through the cool forest, eventually reaching the peak where a battle had recently taken place. The sharp scent of blood greeted them, but the clashing of swords was absent. The fight was over.
Tang Mujin carefully stepped around the bodies scattered about and approached Namgung Jincheon, who was wiping blood from his sword with a cultist’s robe.
“It seems you’ve dealt with them all,” Tang Mujin remarked.
“Yes,” Namgung Jincheon replied.
The cult warriors, caught up in the heat of battle, had fought to the end and none survived. Namgung Jincheon was not one to wait for them to repent, and the people of Mount Kunlun were in no position to show mercy.
“Are you leaving immediately?”
“We’ll bury the dead quickly and then depart.”
The destination for the Kunlun Sect members and Namgung Jincheon was the Gongdong Sect. Traveling with the group would take at least a month, even at a brisk pace.
Unlike Namgung Jincheon, who made his decision without hesitation, the Kunlun Sect members and those staying at Mount Kunlun were more reluctant. An elderly Kunlun Sect member voiced his opinion.
”…There’s no need to rush.”
With the immediate threat gone, it seemed they were reluctant to leave Mount Kunlun.
Tang Mujin approached the old man and asked, “Are you hesitant to leave?”
“Not exactly. But with the problem resolved, I feel there’s no need to hurry. We have the elderly, children, and the infirm to consider. It’s not easy to move such a distance.”
The people around nodded in agreement, including those from nearby villages who had sought refuge.
Tang Mujin sighed deeply. These were people who had lived their entire lives near Mount Kunlun and Qinghai Province. Leaving their homeland for a distant place was not an easy choice. But now was the time for decisiveness.
“This is a reckless decision. You must realize that the cult warriors we defeated today are just a fraction of the entire cult. Consider what will happen if they return. We won’t be able to withstand them as we did today.”
Only a few Kunlun Sect members could perform the formations and spells, and many of them were dead or injured. They couldn’t hold out until spring with their current strength.
The old man stroked his beard, looking ashamed.
“I know it’s shameless to say, but with you here, we should be fine…”
“Hyungong and I plan to leave today,” Tang Mujin replied, offering no further explanation.
An awkward silence followed until the head of the Kunlun Sect, Yuyu Daoist, broke it.
“Come now, are you going to dawdle after deciding to leave? We’re fortunate to have had such benefactors help us. Let’s not hold them back for our comfort.”
Namgung Jincheon also spoke to the old man.
“Now is the perfect time to move. If you miss this chance, you may not be able to leave even if you want to.”
Tang Mujin agreed. Unlike before, when people flocked to Mount Kunlun, no one was coming now. Leaving wouldn’t mean abandoning anyone. Even if Tang Mujin and Hyungong left first, the chances of encountering hostile cult warriors were low. The cult’s encirclement had been broken, and the Kunlun Sect members and Namgung Jincheon would provide protection.
Traveling slowly through nearby villages would ensure they didn’t suffer from a lack of food or water. The ordinary people who had sought refuge at Mount Kunlun were the most familiar with the harsh terrain of Qinghai Province.
The weather was also favorable. It was a bit chilly, but nothing compared to winter. The winters in Qinghai Province were brutal, making travel nearly impossible even for the locals.
Finally, the people began to let go of their reluctance and started to move.
Tang Mujin and Hyungong bid a quick farewell to Namgung Jincheon and Yuyu Daoist, intending to leave a bit ahead of the others. But someone came running after them.
“Let me come with you!”
It was the merchant, Mr. Im. It made sense; they had started this journey together, so it was only right to return together. The three of them headed east.
As they neared the edge of Qinghai Province, Tang Mujin asked Mr. Im, “What will you do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I was wondering if you plan to stay in Qinghai Province. Things will be chaotic here for a while. It’ll definitely be unsettled until next spring.”
Tang Mujin’s question was out of concern, but Mr. Im shook his head.
“I’ve spent my whole life wandering this area, making a living as a peddler. How can I leave my home with nothing but empty hands? I’ve worked too hard to just give up. I need to stay a bit longer, at least until I can afford a pack horse or two.”
The conversation naturally circled back to pack horses. It seemed Mr. Im was envious of someone who had found a ring and bought a horse.
Tang Mujin said, “Three pack horses. That’s not too difficult.”
Mr. Im gave him a sly look. “Did you find some treasure I don’t know about?”
“Nothing like that. But you don’t need to find treasure to get a pack horse.”
Tang Mujin had grown fond of Mr. Im during their travels to and from Mount Kunlun. Merchants like Mr. Im, who were loyal and trustworthy, were rare. It was easier to find a capable merchant than one with such integrity.
“I’ll give you some options. First, you can stay in Qinghai Province. I can provide enough money for a couple of pack horses right away.”
“Great! Let’s do that!”
”…Hear me out. Second, you can come to the Tang family.”
The Tang family still needed hands. Mr. Im might not have the skills to run a trading company, but he could certainly assist the steward, Mr. Wang, with his work.
However, Mr. Im’s reaction was lukewarm. It was clear he didn’t find the Tang family particularly appealing.
Tang Mujin presented the final option. “Third, you can seek out the Master of the Golden Pavilion.”
At this, Mr. Im’s eyes lit up with excitement.
”…The Master of the Golden Pavilion? You know him?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ll be!”
It was understandable. No merchant didn’t admire the Master of the Golden Pavilion. While the title of the greatest martial artist was debatable, there was no dispute that the Master of the Golden Pavilion was the greatest merchant.
“If I write you a letter, the Master of the Golden Pavilion will welcome you without question. You could gain experience with a suitable trading company. You won’t be doing menial tasks, of course.”
Tang Mujin nodded and asked again, “So, will you stay in Qinghai Province for a couple of pack horses?”
Mr. Im chuckled. “Not a chance. To be honest, I’ve grown tired of Qinghai Province. I’ve been here too long, don’t you think?”
Dang Mujin chose not to respond, opting instead to flash a grin at Mr. Im.
The three of them left Cheonghae Fortress and entered the city of Chengdu.
When they had departed from the Tang family estate for Cheonghae Fortress, it was summer. Now, autumn had quietly arrived.
Stretching his arms, Hyun Gong remarked, “This worked out well.”
“What did?” asked Dang Mujin.
“Spending the summer in the coolness of Cheonghae Fortress meant we didn’t have to suffer through the heat.”
“Is that really such a big deal?”
“You wouldn’t understand, being from Sichuan where it’s relatively cooler. But it’s different for us from the Wudang Sect. It’s not just hot; it’s humid because of the forest. And the bugs… so many bugs.”
As they walked along the wall of the Tang family estate, they chatted amiably.
At one point, Mr. Im turned to Dang Mujin and asked, “How far do we have to go to reach the Tang family estate?”
“We’re already inside it. This wall encloses the estate.”
”…?”
Mr. Im looked at Dang Mujin with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, trying to discern whether he was joking or serious.
The Tang family estate was quite expansive compared to other estates.
It wasn’t just large; the walls were solid and well-maintained, and the rooftops visible beyond were pristine, as if newly built.
The reason was simple: they were indeed new.
None of the buildings in the estate were over ten years old, and few were even five.
Dang Mujin could read Mr. Im’s thoughts through his eyes.
In the past, the idea of staying at the Tang family estate seemed less appealing to Mr. Im than owning three horses.
But now, the estate was climbing in his estimation, surpassing even the value of three horses.
Dang Mujin turned to Hyun Gong and asked, “So why did you come to the Tang family estate?”
“It’s closer than Wudang Mountain. Plus, going back to Wudang without the Songmun Sword felt awkward.”
Hyun Gong had gone to Mount Kunlun to retrieve the Songmun Sword from Banyeop.
His plan to turn the crisis into an opportunity and acquire an additional sword had fallen through, but he had at least captured Banyeop, achieving part of his goal.
He even had a letter from Yuyudo-in as proof of capturing Banyeop.
“Back already?”
Just as they were about to enter the estate, Dang Mujin encountered two people at the gate.
One was a familiar face, Sam Anbul. The other was someone he hadn’t seen in a long time.
It was Saehonnoong, a former high-ranking official of the Demonic Cult, who had once kidnapped Dang Mujin with Sam Anbul.
Saehonnoong gave him a knowing smile and a nod.
Judging by his casual attire, it seemed he had been staying at the estate in Dang Mujin’s absence.
‘How many years has it been since we last met?’
He guessed it had been about six or seven years.
Back then, Saehonnoong was already quite old for a martial artist, teetering on the edge of his prime.
Now, he looked even older, his limbs frail and his movements sluggish, no longer able to function as a martial artist.
Most martial artists who fail to achieve eternal youth eventually face such a decline.
Supporting Saehonnoong, Sam Anbul spoke, “His health hasn’t been great lately, so I thought he could stay here for a while. Is that alright?”
“Of course, it’s no problem,” Dang Mujin replied readily, prompting a satisfied smile from Sam Anbul.
“That’s good to hear.”
Saehonnoong then addressed Dang Mujin, “It’s been a while. Thanks for recognizing me. Where have you been?”
“I went to Mount Kunlun. The Demonic Cult’s warriors were surrounding it. It made me realize how close the Great War between the righteous and the demonic is.”
At this, Saehonnoong let out a deep sigh.
“When that rascal first joined the Demonic Cult, I never imagined he’d cause such trouble.”
Saehonnoong still referred to the cult leader as “that rascal,” indicating he never truly accepted him as the leader.
And then, Dang Mujin had a realization.
‘What do I really know about the cult leader?’
Surprisingly little, it turned out.
He knew of the leader’s formidable martial arts skills and striking appearance, but that was about it.
Others were the same. Many were curious about the leader’s prowess and actions, but no one seemed to know who he truly was. In fact, no one even seemed interested.
So, Dang Mujin asked Saehonnoong, “Elder, what kind of person is the cult leader?”
“He’s from the same region as you.”
Dang Mujin didn’t immediately grasp the meaning of this.
”…Pardon?”
“He’s from Chengdu, Sichuan. Didn’t you know?”