Chapter 396: Fate

”…The Great Protector set off on his journey and eventually reached the Heavenly Mountains after quite some time. He was probably just a bit older than Jeong-eon is now… I never imagined that he would change so much, or that he would commit such a thankless act.”

Sigh—

The old storyteller, Saehonnoong, concluded his tale with a deep sigh.

It had been a long story, long enough to make one’s legs numb and backside sore.

Yet, not a single person found it tedious. Partly because Saehonnoong was a captivating storyteller, but also because the life of the cult leader was filled with twists and turns, making it inherently fascinating.

In a place like the Demon Cult, where fugitives gathered, how many could claim to have led a smooth life? Even among them, the cult leader’s life was particularly tumultuous.

A small sniffle broke the silence. Jang Il-nam’s eyes were red and teary.

“The cult leader was a pitiful man…”

Some understood the cult leader’s actions, while others did not.

But no one felt the need to argue with Jang Il-nam. Whether one is good or evil, they can still be pitied.

However, what caught Tang Mujin’s eye was not Jang Il-nam’s tears, but the woman beside him, gently wiping them away.

She appeared to be just over twenty, a striking beauty with a dazzling presence.

Tang Mujin had never seen her before, but he didn’t find that odd.

Just as he often brought people back from his travels, many had joined the Tang family in his absence.

Tang Mujin shifted his focus from the woman and spoke to Saehonnoong.

“The cult leader was more narrow-minded than I thought.”

All eyes turned to Tang Mujin.

“I understand that the cult leader went through many hardships. But didn’t he also receive a lot of help? Elder Hwang Ryeong-ja, Elder Wi Ji-nang, the Sword King of the Jeweon Baek family… Thanks to them, the cult leader’s life didn’t end in a downward spiral but had its ups and downs.”

A life full of ups and downs means facing challenges that ordinary people would struggle to endure.

But at the same time, it means there were also moments of ascent.

A life with only descents or ascents wouldn’t be called a life full of ups and downs.

The cult leader was unfortunate, but he also encountered great fortune several times. In his darkest moments, there were those who extended a helping hand.

Tang Mujin recalled what Baek Hyang-ah had once said.

Baek Hyang-ah had likened people’s malice to a few drops of ink on a white sheet of paper.

While others focused on the black ink and felt disappointed, Baek Hyang-ah never forgot that there was still more white space untouched by the ink.

But the Great Protector wasn’t like that. He seemed like someone so fixated on the ink that he failed to see the paper’s whiteness.

Perhaps that’s why he spent his life believing it was all downhill and lashed out at the world in anger.

However, Saehonnoong shook his head.

“The Great Protector wasn’t someone who couldn’t appreciate help. He just valued different things. It’s a matter of perspective.”

“Perspective?”

“Long ago, the Great Protector was furious about the behavior of orthodox and unorthodox martial artists. They would invoke the rule of the strong when it suited them, but abandon it when it didn’t. He saw it as the cowardly nature of martial artists.”

“Was it anger towards the Sword King who thwarted his revenge? Or towards the Shaolin Temple for releasing Sama Jirang? Or perhaps towards the Sama family for manipulating the Shaolin Temple with food?”

“I can’t say. There might have been incidents I don’t know about. But that’s not the point.”

Saehonnoong paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing.

“The Great Protector’s message was simple. Rather than having standards that change with the situation, it’s more just and desirable to have a clear, albeit harsh, standard.”

“Hmm.”

“The exact standard doesn’t matter much. It might not even have to be the rule of the strong. It’s just that the rule of the strong is the most definitive and commonly used standard, so he upheld it.”

Tang Mujin finally understood.

The cult leader was a man who had accepted the simplistic explanation that he lacked power and endured all the injustices.

But when he finally gained power, those who had it wanted to change the rules. The cult leader couldn’t help but be angry, regardless of right or wrong.

His thoughts and actions were focused not on grudges or gratitude, but on justice and clear standards.

His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Tang Mujin shook his head to clear it.

Then a new worry emerged.

“Do the people who were involved with the cult leader know that Yeonchu has become the leader of the Demon Cult and is orchestrating this situation?”

When Tang Mujin asked, Hwa Yeon-shin, who was half-reclining on Sam An-bul’s lap, answered.

“The Sama family is practically wiped out, so they don’t matter. The Sword King died without knowing anything. Wi Ji-nang knows, but Hwang Ryeong-ja is the problem… Did Hwang Ryeong-ja return to the main sect of the Cheongseong faction from the Seongdo branch? They probably don’t know.”

Hwa Yeon-shin concluded the story naturally.

But Tang Mujin noticed something odd in the story.

“How does Elder Wi Ji-nang know?”

“We heard it together.”

“What?”

“We heard it together.”

Tang Mujin scanned the room.

There were seven people in the room. Among them, two were women.

One was Hwa Yeon-shin, and the other was the young woman sitting next to Jang Il-nam, wiping his tears.

Tang Mujin stared at the young woman. It was a bit rude, but this wasn’t the time for manners.

He tried to overlay the face of Wi Ji-nang from his memory onto the young woman’s face.

The eyes and facial features were subtly similar. But accepting that they were the same person was difficult.

For a simple reason. The young woman was far more beautiful than the young Wi Ji-nang Tang Mujin had imagined.

‘Huh?’

To make matters worse, Tang Mujin realized that Wi Ji-nang wasn’t wearing any makeup.

A face that looked vibrant and defined without makeup. Tang Mujin had never seen anyone like that before.

“Did Elder Wi Ji-nang also achieve rejuvenation?”

Tang Mujin asked in a bewildered voice, and Hwa Yeon-shin smiled triumphantly.

“I brought Nan-hyang to Jung-gyeong two years ago. Nan-hyang pursued the goal of rejuvenation without distraction, and there was an incredible master to guide her. If anything, it’s a bit late for her to have succeeded only now.”

“Well, yes, but to think she actually succeeded… Elder Wi Ji-nang…”

Tang Mujin stammered, and Hyun-gong shouted.

“Why do you keep adding ‘Elder’ to her name?”

”…What’s wrong with that?”

“Ha, you still don’t get it. How can you use such a title for a young lady in her prime…?”

Unlike Tang Mujin, Hyun-gong had realized Wi Ji-nang’s identity the moment she quietly appeared during the story.

That wasn’t all. Hyun-gong had noticed Wi Ji-nang’s subtle glances and had made room for her next to Jang Il-nam. He also noticed that Wi Ji-nang’s eyes narrowed slightly every time Tang Mujin called her ‘Elder.’

And he understood.

‘While Hwa Yeon-shin wishes to be treated as an elder despite her youthful appearance, Elder Wi Ji-nang does not.’

To please someone, you must treat them the way they wish to be treated.

Thus, Hyun-gong’s choice of address for Wi Ji-nang was clear from the start.

“Look at you, still not getting it… Nan-hyang! Say something to him.”

Tang Mujin was startled by the name ‘Nan-hyang.’ But Hyun-gong clearly saw the faint smile on Wi Ji-nang’s lips.

Wi Ji-nang replied coyly.

“It’s fine. Let him call me whatever he wants.”

For Tang Mujin, the most comfortable address was naturally ‘Elder Wi Ji-nang.’

That’s what he had always called her.

But now, Tang Mujin’s mind raced.

‘Is it really okay to call her that?’

His instincts, honed to a fine edge recently, picked up on the emotions and implications hidden beneath Wi Ji-nang’s voice.

‘Calling her ‘Elder’ will lead to unpleasant consequences.’

Tang Mujin spoke with a stiff tongue.

“Well… Of course, calling you Nan-hyang feels natural. It’s not just comfortable; it’s the obvious choice. I was just a bit taken aback…”

Wi Ji-nang nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Is that so? No need to be formal. Just be comfortable. Got it?”

“Yeah. Yeah, sure.”

Tang Mujin smiled awkwardly.

After the story ended and they stepped outside, Tang Mujin was still in shock.

The shock from the cult leader’s past hadn’t even settled before he was hit with another.

Tang Mujin staggered as he made his way to his quarters.

Behind him, he heard the quick, light footsteps of someone following.

Tang Mujin turned to see Hwa Yeon-shin.

Hwa Yeon-shin called out to him in a serious tone.

“Tang Mujin.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“You must have felt it, right?”

A question without context.

But Tang Mujin thought Hwa Yeon-shin seemed a bit excited.

“Felt what, all of a sudden?”

“Don’t play dumb. Didn’t you notice that Nanhyang has feelings for Il-nam?”

Dang Mujin was taken aback.

“What?”

Sure, Wi Ji Nanhyang was sitting next to Jang Il-nam, and he had seen her wiping away his tears. But assuming a romantic relationship from just that seemed like a stretch, especially since they weren’t children.

Hwa Yeonshin spoke with confidence.

“Il-nam might not think much of it, but it’s clear Nanhyang has feelings for him.”

“Have they had any interactions before?”

“Back when Il-nam was known as the ‘Blood Rain Guest,’ the areas he frequented overlapped with where Nanhyang stayed. The martial arts world south of the Yangtze.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“I think there’s some connection between them. It’s obvious there’s affection. You saw her wiping his tears earlier, right? That’s not something you see between just any man and woman.”

Hwa Yeonshin’s voice was full of certainty, but Dang Mujin remained cautious.

“But there’s quite an age difference between them…”

Mentioning the age gap made Hwa Yeonshin flinch slightly, though it was so brief that Dang Mujin didn’t notice.

Hwa Yeonshin continued with her theory.

“On the surface, maybe, but the actual age difference is probably around ten years. That’s nothing. Age doesn’t matter in relationships.”

“But I find it hard to understand. What does Nanhyang see in Master Jang Il-nam?”

“Il-nam might seem tough on the outside, but he’s gentle at heart. He has sharp eyes, a solid build, and a mature charm. Many women are drawn to that type. I think Nanhyang is one of them.”

Really…?

Dang Mujin looked at Hwa Yeonshin with skepticism. She waved her hand dismissively, as if to say there was nothing to worry about.

“There’s absolutely no need to worry. If Nanhyang’s taste isn’t quite that, she could always guide Il-nam to rejuvenate himself. That’s up to her.”

What nonsense. Who in the world could rejuvenate just because someone told them to?

Leaving such an important matter to someone else’s judgment was absurd, and rejuvenation wasn’t something you could achieve just by deciding to do it.

Yet, at the same time, Dang Mujin thought that if anyone could, it might be Jang Il-nam. His talent was extraordinary, and he was a bit of a fool, too.

Dang Mujin found himself nodding unconsciously.

”…It does make sense.”

“Exactly. Besides, Il-nam is always looking after your kids. How long are you going to let that continue? If we work together, by this time next year, Il-nam will be looking after his own kids, not yours.”

Dang Mujin had been feeling guilty about leaving half the childcare to Jang Il-nam anyway. And imagining how much Il-nam, who loved children, would cherish his own was a heartwarming thought.

However, Dang Mujin had a fundamental question.

“But, Master.”

“What? Still curious about something?”

“Why did you come to me with this?”

When Dang Mujin asked, Hwa Yeonshin chuckled.

“Aren’t you my prized student? If you and I join forces, bringing those two together will be as easy as flipping a hand.”

Men, when praised and recognized, find it hard to back down.

Dang Mujin cracked his neck with a confident air. Crack, crack.

“Alright. Let’s give it a try.”