Episode 87: The Palace of the Half-Dragon

A voice rang out, loud and accusing, from an unknown disciple of the Seongrim Sect.

“It’s him! He’s the one who attacked our master!”

It seemed the disciple had been hiding, observing the situation, and then slipped away to seek help from the Cheongseong Sect.

Hwang Ryeong-ja, the head of the Cheongseong Sect, and Jin Song, the chief instructor, were taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. They had assumed it was some nefarious villain causing trouble, but instead, they were met with a familiar face.

In fact, they were more than just acquaintances with Dang Moo-jin.

Just a few months ago, Dang Moo-jin had crafted a magnificent sword for Hwang Ryeong-ja, almost at the cost of the metal alone, and Jin Song was next in line to receive one.

The attachment martial artists have to their swords is profound. While martial skills can be honed through relentless effort, a legendary sword is not something one can obtain through hard work alone. It requires a stroke of fate, a blessing from the heavens.

To Hwang Ryeong-ja and Jin Song, Dang Moo-jin was a living embodiment of such a fortuitous encounter.

Hwang Ryeong-ja recalled the day he visited the Seokga Forge and stumbled upon an unfinished dagger. The shock of learning that it was crafted not by the renowned Seok Yajang or Seok Ji-seung, but by Dang Moo-jin, was still vivid in his memory.

Had he known where Dang Moo-jin was, Hwang Ryeong-ja might have left the sect to follow him.

After over a year of anxious waiting, he finally received a new sword. His attachment to the sword was immense, and his goodwill towards Dang Moo-jin was equally strong.

’…What should I do?’

Hwang Ryeong-ja decided to calm the agitated Seongrim disciple first.

“Let’s assess the situation before acting rashly.”

“How can I be calm? Our master was brutally attacked by that villain…”

“Tsk.”

As Hwang Ryeong-ja, a martial artist of the highest caliber, clicked his tongue, the Seongrim disciple realized his place and looked sheepish. The gap between a top-tier martial artist and a third-rate one was that significant.

Hwang Ryeong-ja scrutinized Dang Moo-jin’s appearance. There was something peculiar about him.

When he first heard the disciple’s story, Hwang Ryeong-ja imagined a villain steeped in dark energy, drenched in blood. But Dang Moo-jin’s eyes were as gentle and composed as ever, and there wasn’t a single drop of blood on his clothes.

Still, he couldn’t immediately take Dang Moo-jin’s side. Hwang Ryeong-ja asked him directly.

“Tell me, Dang Moo-jin. Is it true that you killed the Seongrim master?”

“What? No, it’s not true.”

Hwang Ryeong-ja gestured towards the Seongrim disciple.

“This man claims he saw you attack the master.”

”…I said he might be dead. I didn’t say he was definitely dead, sir.”

The disciple quickly backtracked. Hwang Ryeong-ja gave him a sidelong glance and asked Dang Moo-jin again.

“We should check on the master’s condition. Where is he?”

“He’s resting in his chamber.”

”…Resting? Asleep?”

“Yes. Please, follow me.”

Dang Moo-jin led the three of them to the chamber. The Seongrim master was peacefully asleep.

Hwang Ryeong-ja and Jin Song glared at the Seongrim disciple, who was visibly uneasy.

“This can’t be right…”

Ahem.

Hwang Ryeong-ja cleared his throat, displeased, and checked the master’s condition.

His breathing was steady, his energy flow was undisturbed, and there were no broken bones or bruises.

“He’s unharmed, but it’s odd that he won’t wake up.”

“I used a technique. He should wake by noon.”

It didn’t seem like he was lying to cover up anything.

Sensing the situation was turning against him, the Seongrim disciple shouted desperately.

“But the Half-Dragon Palace! He definitely took it!”

The disciple’s story had already lost credibility. Hwang Ryeong-ja asked, somewhat dismissively.

“Really? Dang Moo-jin, where is this Half-Dragon Palace?”

“In his own room.”

His own room? The Seongrim disciple shut his eyes tightly, and Hwang Ryeong-ja asked again.

“Is he dead or injured? Are his energy channels severed, or are his limbs broken?”

“No, he’s fine.”

“Of course, I trust you, Dang Moo-jin. But since we’re here, we should verify his condition. Bring him here.”

The four of them left the master’s chamber. Dang Moo-jin walked ahead and returned with the unconscious Half-Dragon Palace.

Hwang Ryeong-ja examined him carefully. Though his hands and feet were bound, there were no visible injuries, and his energy channels were intact.

However, his energy was slightly agitated, likely due to the shock of seeing his master subdued.

‘He must have been traumatized by witnessing his master’s defeat.’

Hwang Ryeong-ja, though a Taoist of the Cheongseong Sect, was also a martial artist. And martial artists often dismiss psychological and mental issues as a sign of weakness.

It seemed like a trivial matter. Hwang Ryeong-ja decided to wrap up the situation with a simple question.

“I thought something serious had happened, but it seems it was much ado about nothing. What exactly happened that led you to cause a commotion at the Seongrim Sect, Dang Moo-jin?”

“I left home in the evening and was returning around midnight when I sensed unfamiliar presences behind me. When I turned, there were six masked men.”

“Hmm. And then?”

“Without a word, they swung a club at the back of my head. So I subdued them. When I unmasked them, I found it was the Half-Dragon Palace.”

Dang Moo-jin produced the neatly cut mask.

Hwang Ryeong-ja looked at Jin Song. Unlike Hwang Ryeong-ja, who rarely left the sect, Jin Song often strolled through the city, familiar with its affairs and rumors.

“It’s likely true. The Half-Dragon Palace and his gang are notorious troublemakers around here.”

“You should have dealt with them sooner.”

“As a martial artist of the Cheongseong Sect, they were beneath my notice. They kept a low profile around me, so it was hard to act preemptively.”

Hwang Ryeong-ja nodded in satisfaction and asked Dang Moo-jin.

“And what did you do next?”

“I sent them away, intending to discuss it later, but I couldn’t shake the feeling, so I came to the Seongrim Sect.”

Hearing the full story, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Dang Moo-jin had killed the Half-Dragon Palace.

Swinging a club at someone’s head is no small matter. At best, it could cause unconsciousness; at worst, it could lead to severe injury or death.

Moreover, the fact that they wore masks indicated they intended to commit a crime.

Furthermore, as a martial artist, failing to recognize a superior and attacking recklessly is a grave mistake. Even with leniency, losing an arm would be expected.

Yet, the Half-Dragon Palace was alive and unscathed. This was a testament to Dang Moo-jin’s benevolent and forgiving nature.

Hwang Ryeong-ja decided to conclude the night’s disturbance.

“It seems you’ve been caught up in a troublesome affair, Dang Moo-jin. But it’s understandable that the disciple rushed here, thinking the master was in danger. I won’t hold it against you, so go home and rest.”

The Seongrim disciple, relieved not to be reprimanded, left with an awkward expression. It was fortunate he wasn’t questioned further.

Hwang Ryeong-ja also addressed Dang Moo-jin.

“I’ll come to the Seongrim Sect tomorrow to deal with the Half-Dragon Palace’s crimes. You should go home and rest for now.”

Unexpectedly, Dang Moo-jin objected.

“No, I can’t.”

“Hmm?”

“The Half-Dragon Palace is backed by the Salmak.”

“The Salmak?”

What an unexpected claim. The Salmak, known for their ruthless ways, wouldn’t accept someone as incompetent as the Half-Dragon Palace as an assassin.

But Dang Moo-jin’s voice was filled with a strange fervor and certainty.

“Why do you think that?”

Unlike before, Dang Moo-jin’s demeanor was neither calm nor composed as he explained.

There was no new information. The night attack, the masks they wore—that was all.

There were no tattoos of the Salmak, nor had he witnessed any killings.

Yet Dang Moo-jin was convinced that the Half-Dragon Palace was an assassin for the Salmak and had killed many.

Hwang Ryeong-ja and Jin Song wanted to support Dang Moo-jin, but even considering their feelings, his claims seemed too far-fetched.

Hwang Ryeong-ja was secretly relieved the Seongrim disciple had left in time.

“Dang Moo-jin, that’s quite a leap.”

“No, I’m certain he’s an assassin for the Salmak.”

His insistence was unusual. Hwang Ryeong-ja took a step back.

”…Very well. I’ll summon the Half-Dragon Palace tomorrow and thoroughly investigate any ties to the Salmak. For now, let’s leave it at that.”

As Hwang Ryeong-ja tried to conclude the matter, Dang Moo-jin’s expression changed noticeably.

He seemed gripped by extreme anxiety.

“No, we can’t let a Salmak agent live. We must extract a confession and execute him here and now.”

Dang Moo-jin appeared ready to draw his sword and deal with the Half-Dragon Palace himself.

Hwang Ryeong-ja spoke sternly.

“Young Master Tang, let’s not escalate this. It’s not good for someone destined to be a physician to be rumored as a killer.”

“With danger right at our doorstep, do we really have the luxury to worry about future consequences? We need to nip this threat in the bud if we want to survive.”

Huang Lingzhe observed the tremor in Tang Mujin’s eyes. Something was off.

It wasn’t just his eyes. Tang Mujin seemed determined to take Ban Yonggweol away, no matter the cost, as he started moving towards him.

But neither Huang Lingzhe nor Jin Song intended to let Tang Mujin act recklessly. If they had killed Ban Yonggweol immediately after the attack, it might have been different, but harming him now would look bad.

As Huang Lingzhe and Jin Song blocked his path, Tang Mujin glared at them with a sharp gaze, clearly ready to resolve the issue by force if necessary.

He toyed with the hilt of his sword but ultimately raised his fists instead, torn between his desire to kill Ban Yonggweol and his reluctance to harm Huang Lingzhe and Jin Song.

Huang Lingzhe didn’t flinch. In the martial world, it’s common to settle disputes with strength rather than words.

“Jin Song, take Ban Yonggweol far away.”

“Are you planning to fight?”

“Yes.”

Huang Lingzhe replied curtly and addressed Tang Mujin.

“Young Master Tang, I won’t hurt you too badly, so don’t worry. Like the head of Seongrim, you’ll wake up refreshed by tomorrow noon.”

Huang Lingzhe didn’t draw his sword either. Instead, he assumed the stance of the Crushing Stone Thousand Palm technique.

Though the martial arts of the Cheongseong School are considered weaker than those of other schools, they should suffice to subdue an opponent of Tang Mujin’s level.

Huang Lingzhe extended his palm. It seemed like a light gesture, but it carried the force to shatter a stone pillar in an instant.

Tang Mujin wasn’t far behind, swinging his arm to deflect Huang Lingzhe’s palm and counterattack. He showed no intent to kill, but he also had no intention of backing down.

In truth, there was some murderous intent, but it wasn’t directed at Huang Lingzhe. It was growing stronger towards Ban Yonggweol.

Their fists and palms clashed repeatedly, the intensity of the fight making it easy to forget they weren’t wielding weapons.

After exchanging over a dozen blows, Huang Lingzhe was taken aback. He had expected to subdue Tang Mujin easily, but his skills were formidable.

Tang Mujin’s martial arts were more profound than the Crushing Stone Thousand Palm technique, and his understanding was deep.

‘Is it Shaolin martial arts?’

Tang Mujin’s style bore the hallmarks of Shaolin techniques, emphasizing flow and continuity over a single decisive strike, with movements that seemed to draw circles, characteristic of Buddhist martial arts.

Occasionally, a half-palm strike would appear between techniques, and there was a subtle aura of righteousness.

‘His mind seems unstable, yet his martial arts carry a righteous aura. How strange.’

Most troubling was the venomous energy in Tang Mujin’s palms. It wasn’t lethal, but it could certainly influence the fight.

Even considering all these factors, Huang Lingzhe was confident he wouldn’t lose. The gap between him and Tang Mujin was significant.

The problem was that while Huang Lingzhe could defeat Tang Mujin, subduing him without injury was another matter.

‘This won’t be easy.’

Jin Song stood back, hesitant to join the fray. It wouldn’t look good to gang up on Tang Mujin, especially since his skills weren’t superior to Huang Lingzhe’s.

Moreover, the venomous energy surrounding Tang Mujin was a concern. Jin Song’s understanding wasn’t sufficient to dispel it while fighting.

As the fight dragged on without resolution, Huang Lingzhe noticed a figure approaching from behind Tang Mujin.

A young man in a dark gray night outfit, quite handsome and moving with the lightness of someone well-versed in martial arts.

At first, Huang Lingzhe thought he might be there to assist Tang Mujin, but to his surprise, the young man gestured towards him, signaling for silence with a finger to his lips.

The stranger moved silently, positioning himself behind Tang Mujin, waiting for an opening.

“Haap!”

Huang Lingzhe launched a more intense attack to draw Tang Mujin’s attention.

As Tang Mujin became fully absorbed in the fight, the young man struck the back of his neck with a knife-hand.

Thud—

A small impact, but it was enough. Tang Mujin collapsed, unconscious.

The young man had moved so stealthily that Tang Mujin seemed unaware of what had happened even as he fell.

Huang Lingzhe let out a sigh of relief, and the young man in the night outfit offered a respectful bow.

“I apologize for my intrusion.”

Huang Lingzhe wasn’t the type to be petty in such situations.

“No need to apologize. I don’t know who you are, but you’ve been a great help.”

Unlike Huang Lingzhe, Jin Song recognized the young man.

“Aren’t you a friend of Young Master Tang? I believe you’re called Myung, and I’ve heard you stay at the Tang family clinic.”

“That’s correct.”

”…Are you sure this is okay?”

In a way, Namgung Myung had ambushed his friend to aid outsiders. It could easily strain their friendship.

But Namgung Myung shrugged it off casually.

“It’s fine. When a friend loses their way, it’s a true friend’s duty to help them find it again. Besides, it seemed like you were about to draw your sword, so I couldn’t just stand by. It’s better for everyone to resolve this without serious injury.”

Huang Lingzhe cleared his throat softly.

Namgung Myung was right; Huang Lingzhe had been contemplating whether it would be better to end things quickly, even if it meant drawing his sword.

If he had drawn his sword, the fight would have ended with injuries, big or small.

Jin Song, now understanding the situation clearly, expressed his gratitude to Namgung Myung once more.

“That was a wise decision. How long have you been watching?”

“Not long. I came out to admire the moon and noticed a fight breaking out, so I watched for a bit.”

Jin Song looked up at the night sky.

The stars were bright, but the moon was a mere sliver. Not the best night for moon-gazing.

Namgung Myung quickly added, “I prefer the crescent moon to the full moon.”

The world is vast, and it’s not strange for someone to prefer a crescent moon. Jin Song and Huang Lingzhe nodded lightly.

The three of them watched over the unconscious Tang Mujin and Ban Yonggweol, unsure of how to proceed.

But it was clear that simply letting them go would be unwise.

In the end, they decided to take the unconscious Tang Mujin and Ban Yonggweol to the Cheongseong School’s branch in Seongdo.