Afterword - The Martial Alliance Leader
From a young age, Hyun Gong aspired to reach great heights.
Despite numerous twists and turns, his plans proceeded relatively smoothly. Under the guidance of the esteemed Seomun, Hyun Gong became the head of the Wudang Sect and, at thirty-five, inherited the position of Martial Alliance Leader from Myeon Moksang. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had reached the pinnacle of what a martial artist could achieve.
His martial arts skills were extraordinary as well. He was one of the elite masters of the world, a member of the revered Four Sages. Few in the martial world, or even among the common folk, were unaware of Hyun Gong’s prowess and reputation. He felt there was nothing left to achieve. He was content and happy.
The problem arose after Hyun Gong had fulfilled his ambitions. Climbing to the top was one thing, but the responsibilities that came with it were overwhelming.
“Leader, may I come in?”
Before Hyun Gong could respond, a young woman confidently entered his office. It was Jegal Yeon, his aide.
Jegal Yeon had been appointed during the tenure of the previous leader, Manryeok Song. Initially, Hyun Gong hadn’t expected much from her, but she proved to be incredibly efficient and reliable, becoming an invaluable asset. Hyun Gong often thought that appointing Jegal Yeon as his aide was one of his greatest achievements as the Martial Alliance Leader.
“Yes, Jegal Yeon. What is it?” “I have some matters to report.” “Go ahead.” “Firstly, another treasure map has been discovered.” “Again? Where this time?” “Shandong.” “At least Shandong is a region we have a firm grip on. That’s a relief.”
While Jegal Yeon, whom he hadn’t expected much from, turned out to be a great help, there were others who, despite high expectations, were of no help at all.
The worst among them was undoubtedly Namgung Myung. Not only was he unhelpful, but he also caused endless trouble. What infuriated Hyun Gong even more was that the world remained oblivious to Namgung Myung’s misdeeds.
In the past, Namgung Myung had stolen many items but often returned them to their rightful owners. At the time, Hyun Gong thought Namgung Myung was out of his mind, but in hindsight, it was a sign of his remaining humanity and conscience.
Now, perhaps finding it bothersome, Namgung Myung simply hid the stolen items away.
The real issue wasn’t the theft itself but the fact that Namgung Myung would create maps or riddles indicating where the items were hidden and discreetly distribute them.
Initially, people didn’t pay much attention to such antics. Who would embark on a long journey to find a treasure map of unknown origin when they could be doing something more sensible?
However, when some adventurers followed the maps and riddles and actually found treasures, the craze for treasure maps swept through the martial world.
Namgung Myung’s maps were more than just simple treasure maps.
Imagine what happens when numerous secret manuals and treasures from various families are discovered at the locations marked on these maps. The first to find them doesn’t simply claim ownership; it leads to disputes and chaos.
In the midst of this chaos, all sorts of incidents occur. Declining sects find treasures and rise again, while families that relied solely on their current status face downfall due to the pressure from neighboring sects.
Namgung Myung, to put it kindly, injects tension into the martial world, but to put it bluntly, he is a storm of chaos. Tracing back the causes of various incidents in the martial world, more than half can be attributed to Namgung Myung. This means that more than half of Hyun Gong’s workload stems from Namgung Myung’s actions.
Even now, as new treasure maps are likely being created somewhere, Hyun Gong found it hard to suppress his frustration.
’…Namgung Myung. Do you have any idea how much I want to kill you?’
There was a time when Hyun Gong thought Namgung Myung might settle down after starting a family and losing his father in a battle with a cult leader.
But that was a clear misjudgment. Namgung Myung hadn’t matured at all. In fact, with the disappearance of the only person who could restrain him, Namgung Jinshin, Namgung Myung was like a wild horse running free.
Hyun Gong carefully instructed Jegal Yeon, ensuring his anger didn’t show on his face.
”…Send someone to Shandong to keep an eye on the area around the treasure map. If any serious situation arises, let them know I won’t stand idly by. Once things are settled, report back to me.”
“Understood. Also, there’s an invitation for you to attend an event.”
“Where?”
“At the end of this month, there’s a celebration in Kaifeng to honor the birth of Gyu So-shin. They insist on your attendance.”
Hyun Gong was skeptical.
”…What are they talking about? That guy didn’t even know his own birthday. How are they celebrating it?”
“They’ve decided on a new date. They claim the most auspicious day of the year must be Gyu So-shin’s birthday…”
“Who came up with that nonsense?”
“The Hong Gyeol sect in Tianjing.”
It was getting ridiculous. Hyun Gong felt a wave of dizziness.
“Besides, why celebrate the birthday of someone who’s not even a leader in Kaifeng? He was born in Zhongjing and grew up in Juwul Village.”
“The main sect in Tianjing strongly insisted. They believe many people want to remember Gyu So-shin, so it’s better to hold the event in populous Kaifeng rather than Zhongjing. There was no opposition from the Kaifeng sect, so it seems they went along with it. The Left Army’s Youngmu-gun has requested your presence to grace the occasion. You might need to prepare a speech…”
Jegal Yeon glanced at Hyun Gong’s expression.
”…I’ll prepare a brief speech. Less than three lines.”
“Thank you…”
“Oh, and next month, there’s a memorial service for Gyu So-shin’s death anniversary at Sosimsoo. They also insist on your attendance.”
It’s absurd. Celebrating a birthday is one thing, but why grace a funeral?
Yet, not attending wasn’t an option.
The world knew of Hyun Gong’s close friendship with Hong Gyeolgae, and not attending a friend’s memorial would surely tarnish his reputation.
’…I want to kill Hong Gyeolgae too.’
Sensing Hyun Gong’s mood, Jegal Yeon cautiously continued.
”…I’ll prepare for the memorial service as well.”
”…Yes, keep it under three lines.”
“Understood. And-” “Is there more?” “Yes. But the third matter is something you can take lightly. A gift has arrived from Hainan. Several bundles of dried fish, twenty bags of high-quality salt, and a sack of dried coconut flesh. A letter accompanied it, wishing you well in managing your health amidst your heavy responsibilities.”
Hyun Gong was nearly moved to tears. Unlike Namgung Myung or Hong Gyeolgae, this was a truly shining example of humanity.
The untainted nobility of someone like Jang Il-nam, who, despite being surrounded by the likes of Namgung Myung and Hong Gyeolgae, remained pure. That was perhaps Jang Il-nam’s greatest virtue.
As he pondered this, a name came to Hyun Gong’s mind: Dang Mujin, the master of the Devil’s Den.
“Come to think of it, isn’t there something going on in Sichuan?” “Yes, but we haven’t received any letters from Sichuan.”
Why hadn’t Dang Mujin sent a letter? Was it out of consideration for Hyun Gong’s busy schedule? Or was it the distance between the Martial Alliance and Chengdu?
No. A man who would sprinkle poison if a friend snored wouldn’t refrain from sending a letter for such reasons.
’…He’s telling me to come without needing an invitation.’
Unlike the trivial invitation from Hong Gyeolgae, a visit to Chengdu was something Hyun Gong needed to do eventually. Perhaps it was time for a trip, a chance to escape his burdens and enjoy some leisure.
With a lighter heart, Hyun Gong asked Jegal Yeon.
“Is there anything else?” “That’s all for today.”
That meant there would be no pressing matters for the next couple of weeks. Anyone with urgent business would come to Wudang.
“You’ve worked hard. Finish up and take some time to relax.” “Yes, sir.”
Jegal Yeon bowed respectfully and slowly retreated.
Hyun Gong also left the Martial Alliance headquarters in Luoyang and headed for Wudang Mountain. After all, he was not only the Martial Alliance Leader but also the head of the Wudang Sect.
Hyun Gong traveled tirelessly, using his martial arts to reach Wudang Mountain.
However, the usually serene and calm atmosphere of Wudang Mountain felt off. The disciples of the Wudang Sect wore bewildered expressions, as if something was on the tip of their tongues, a feeling of déjà vu.
Just then, Hyun Gong’s junior, Hyun Seon, approached him.
“Senior Brother, there’s trouble.” “It seems so. What’s going on?” “Right after you left for the Martial Alliance headquarters, this appeared…”
Hyun Seon handed Hyun Gong a yellowed piece of paper. On it was a crude drawing, with a few lines of verse beneath it.
Hyun Gong’s hand trembled. He knew exactly what it was. Another treasure map.
It was clear that Namgung Myung had been keeping a close watch on Hyun Gong’s every move, especially since the very day after Hyun Gong left for the main headquarters of the Martial Alliance, the Jangbo Dagger was discovered missing.
“What exactly is gone?” Hyun Gong asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
“The Zishao Pill, which was just completed recently, has disappeared,” came the reply.
Hyun Gong felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
The Zishao Pill was a newly developed elixir by the Wudang Sect. On the day when Manryeok Song passed the position of Martial Alliance Leader to Hyun Gong, he had offered a polite gesture, saying Hyun Gong could ask for help anytime he needed it.
Though it was merely a formality, Hyun Gong seized the opportunity and requested the recipe for the Great Elixir. Of course, it was an impossible request from the start, but Manryeok Song subtly provided him with the recipe for the Summoning Elixir instead. While the Great Elixir was the most powerful of all, there were a few elixirs on par with the Summoning Elixir, so its recipe wasn’t an enormous secret.
Armed with the Summoning Elixir’s recipe, Hyun Gong sought out Choi Su-sam, a renowned healer in the area. With Su-sam’s guidance, he combined the elixir with herbs suited to the Wudang Sect’s internal energy techniques, creating a new formula. That was the birth of the Zishao Pill.
And now, the very first batch of the Zishao Pill had been stolen. The pill that was meant to be Hyun Gong’s triumph had been taken by the Shimpoong Sect.
Hyun Seon, standing nearby, couldn’t even meet Hyun Gong’s eyes, fearing a reprimand. But instead of anger, Hyun Gong offered a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to resolve this,” he said calmly.
“Master, do you have a plan?” Hyun Seon asked, his voice tinged with hope.
“Hyun Seon, if you’re afraid of tigers, you must enter the tiger’s den to catch one,” Hyun Gong replied with a knowing look.
For the peace and safety of the martial world, Hyun Gong resolved to infiltrate Namgung Myung’s stronghold and set it ablaze before they could use the stolen elixir.