On a Snowy Day

Just as his conversation with Eom So-ul was wrapping up, Dang Mu-jin sensed a peculiar commotion and stepped outside. As expected, a visitor had come to the Dang family estate. It was Hang Baek-sin-ni, the head disciple of the Imi Sect.

Dang Mu-jin approached Hang Baek-sin-ni, offering a polite greeting with a slight bow.

“We meet again so soon. But surely… you haven’t already concluded your ‘Spring Gate’?”

The ‘Spring Gate’ was a decision made by a martial sect to refrain from external activities and focus on internal affairs. Over time, however, its meaning had shifted somewhat, becoming akin to a declaration of surrender.

Because the essence of the ‘Spring Gate’ had changed to signify surrender, attacking a sect that had declared it was considered a grave misdeed among martial artists. It was akin to striking a warrior who had already laid down their sword in defeat.

Yet, declaring the ‘Spring Gate’ wasn’t entirely beneficial for the sect either. It was customary for a sect to cease external activities for at least five years, sometimes as long as twenty or thirty years. Just as attacking a sect that declared the ‘Spring Gate’ was seen as a misdeed, re-entering the martial world shortly after declaring it was considered quite disgraceful.

Hang Baek-sin-ni hesitated at Dang Mu-jin’s question but soon shook his head.

“No, it’s not that. The meaning of the ‘Spring Gate’ has been lost due to the chaos caused by a certain family.”

“Who attacked the Imi Sect?”

“Just a few days ago, a strange bird appeared at the Demonic Cult, killing over ten people. As if that wasn’t enough, they took the head of Cheong-eum Pavilion. They said they’d return him if we brought them a traitor, but the Dang family had no connection with the head of Cheong-eum Pavilion.”

The head of a pavilion would be someone of considerable standing within the sect.

Through the mention of a traitor, Dang Mu-jin deduced that the one causing chaos was the cult leader.

Hang Baek-sin-ni continued his story.

“I’ve never met the cult leader, but judging by his prowess, I’m certain it was him.”

‘If he’s the man I think he is, then he must be the cult leader,’ Dang Mu-jin thought.

Hang Baek-sin-ni shook his head.

“He was indeed a middle-aged man, but he didn’t look well. His hair was disheveled, his clothes were in disarray, and his eyes were more like those of a beast than a human.”

Dang Mu-jin pondered.

‘It seems the cult leader’s condition has worsened, and his madness has intensified…’

At that moment, Hang Baek-sin-ni’s gaze shifted from Dang Mu-jin’s face to something behind him. Dang Mu-jin turned to see Sam-an-bul and Eom So-ul emerging from the room.

Hang Baek-sin-ni stared intently at Eom So-ul, as if he had something to say.

It wasn’t hard for Dang Mu-jin to guess what Hang Baek-sin-ni wanted. He was likely hoping to exchange Eom So-ul for the return of the captured head of Cheong-eum Pavilion.

After a long moment of hesitation, Hang Baek-sin-ni seemed to make up his mind and looked at Dang Mu-jin.

“I have a request for the head of the Dang family…”

Just then, the door to the Dang family estate burst open with a loud noise, and another monk appeared.

The monk hurriedly scanned the surroundings, spotted Hang Baek-sin-ni, and rushed over to whisper something in his ear.

Hang Baek-sin-ni’s expression changed dramatically with each word he heard—despair, frustration, helplessness, guilt…

After the monk withdrew, Hang Baek-sin-ni slumped onto a nearby rock, looking defeated.

“They say the head of Cheong-eum Pavilion, who was captured by the cult leader, has been found.”

“Oh, that’s a relief. It seems the issue has been resolved without further trouble.”

Dang Mu-jin spoke with relief, but Hang Baek-sin-ni replied in a voice filled with desolation.

“Only half… only half of him was found.”

Dang Mu-jin’s breath caught in his throat. Only half of him was found? It was a situation worse than not finding him at all.

Lately, it seemed like troubling situations were becoming more frequent. As Dang Mu-jin stood there, lost in thought, Hang Baek-sin-ni added more details.

“Apparently, it wasn’t far from Geumjeong Peak. A traveling merchant discovered it near the village below Ami Mountain…”

Hang Baek-sin-ni sat there for a long time, lost in thought. It was clear he had been very close to the head of Cheong-eum Pavilion. After all, they had spent decades together at Ami Mountain.

Finally, Hang Baek-sin-ni let out a deep sigh, as if releasing everything from within.

“My cultivation is still lacking, and I am not yet worthy of being called a ‘sin-ni.’”

“What do you mean by that?”

“When Siddhartha sat under the Bodhi tree, he faced the temptations of the Mara, the celestial demon, and yet he attained enlightenment without wavering. But I couldn’t withstand even a single moment of doubt. The path ahead seems endlessly distant.”

The death of the head of Cheong-eum Pavilion was painful, but that wasn’t what Hang Baek-sin-ni was truly lamenting. He felt guilty for considering handing over Eom So-ul to the cult leader to resolve the situation.

Dang Mu-jin offered a bitter smile. There was nothing more he could do. Hang Baek-sin-ni likely wasn’t seeking comfort.

Dang Mu-jin pondered.

‘What is the cult leader thinking? He stirs up trouble with the Imi Sect, takes hostages, and then just kills them?’

The fact that the body wasn’t even hidden was the most baffling part.

If the hostage had been killed and the death concealed, it would have made some sense. Even in death, a missing hostage could still serve its purpose.

But to kill the hostage brutally and leave the body in an easily discoverable place was incomprehensible.

‘No, as the elder said, the cult leader has simply gone mad. There’s no need to try to understand.’

To make matters worse, the chaos was far from over. This time, a commotion was heard beyond the Dang family estate, and a martial artist burst in.

He wasn’t someone Dang Mu-jin recognized, but the martial artist seemed to know him and quickly paid his respects.

“Master of the Dang family, a madman has appeared, killing some of the spectators, tearing their bodies apart, and scattering the pieces everywhere.”

”…”

The martial artist was out of breath, as if he had run all the way there.

Sam-an-bul approached, followed by Man-ryeok-seung. As these formidable figures gathered, the air grew heavy, and even the seasoned martial artist seemed weighed down by the atmosphere. His breathing, which had been calming, became labored once more.

Then Eom So-ul stepped forward. As the crowd’s attention turned to her, she spoke.

“I’ll help too.”

The crowd’s gaze shifted from Eom So-ul’s face to her belly. Though it showed no signs of pregnancy, everyone knew she was with child, and they could guess the father’s identity.

Finally, Jang-am-nim approached Eom So-ul and asked.

“Great Protector, are you standing against the cult leader?”

Jang-am-nim’s tone was unusually harsh.

Eom So-ul met Jang-am-nim’s gaze, glanced briefly at Sam-an-bul, and then spoke with resolve.

“I once served him as our leader, but I can no longer recognize that madman as such. The Demonic Cult may be on the brink of collapse, but as its representative, I will see to his end. It’s the only way to atone for the cult’s bloodstained history.”

Jang-am-nim looked at Eom So-ul for a long time before turning away with a troubled expression.

Dang Mu-jin spoke.

“Thank you.”

Ten supreme martial artists. As all the renowned supreme martial artists in the world followed the guide to the hall, the people of Seongdo, sensing the unusual atmosphere, trailed behind them.

Familiar faces appeared here and there. Members of the Dang family, local ruffians, and even martial artists from small sects in Seongdo, like the Seongrim Sect. Even Dan Seol-young was spotted briefly.

Dang Mu-jin addressed the crowd.

“I understand your curiosity, but please, go back today. You might lose your life trying to satisfy your curiosity.”

But the crowd showed no intention of leaving.

In a world starved for excitement, who would want to miss a lifetime’s worth of bragging rights just because it was a little dangerous?

Dang Mu-jin tried several more times to disperse the crowd, but the number of onlookers only grew.

‘Sigh…’

In the end, Dang Mu-jin gave up and moved on. As he did, he felt a cold touch on his cheek and looked up at the sky.

Snow was falling from the sky. Not just a brief flurry, but a heavy snowfall, with dark clouds filling the sky like summer storm clouds. It was one of those rare days when a heavy snowstorm would blanket the land.

As a man trying to atone for his wrongs, as a husband, and as someone who once dared to dream, he fought desperately, ready to meet his end without revealing his true feelings to anyone.

Yet, paradoxically, the master had no intention of dying easily. As the greatest under heaven, and as a man who had nearly reached the pinnacle of martial arts, he couldn’t let go of that final ambition.

Without a hint of hesitation, he drew his sword, stained red with blood.

“I don’t know who will be the last one standing,” he said, his voice carrying a faint, chilling resolve.

“But this world will never forget me.”