Episode 95: People on the Edge
Upon hearing that the swordsmanship was from the Wudang sect, Tang Mujin paid closer attention to the unfolding scene.
The three bandits from the Green Forest were in their forties or fifties. Their appearance was typical of other bandits: leather clothes made from roughly tanned hides, unkempt and scruffy hair and beards.
But their fighting style was a different story.
Out of the seven bandits, more than half wielded unusual weapons, as was common among their kind. There were serrated blades, oversized sickles, sturdy iron clubs, and claw-like weapons with blades protruding like talons.
These unconventional weapons were a tactic to exploit the opponent’s unfamiliarity, a method often employed by bandits and one that proved quite effective.
In contrast, the three bandits using Wudang swordsmanship wielded ordinary swords—plain and unadorned. Their martial arts were markedly different. The seven bandits’ techniques were aggressive and crude, clearly aiming to pierce their opponents’ throats at any given chance.
However, the three bandits countered with a defensive and fluid swordplay, absorbing all attacks without a hint of malice in their strikes.
“This is strange. It’s like they’re pushing their opponents back with their shoulders or palms, not their swords.”
“Their skills seem… at least first-rate, don’t they?”
“Seems that way.”
The seven bandits facing them were, at best, second or third-rate.
Three individuals, with a defensive stance, were pushing back seven attackers. It was an odd expression, but there was no better way to describe the situation.
The ones who felt the disparity in skill most acutely were not Tang Mujin or Namgung Myung, but the seven bandits themselves.
Yet, their expressions showed irritation rather than fear or terror.
“Damn it… Enough, enough! We surrender!”
The bandit with the serrated blade shouted, and as if by magic, the fight ceased. He seemed to be the leader among the seven.
The three bandits using Wudang swordsmanship crossed their arms and looked at the seven. The defeated bandits, as if accustomed to such situations, naturally laid down their weapons and placed their hands behind their heads.
The three victors moved among them, collecting spoils. There wasn’t much of value—just some snacks and a bit of money.
They even tapped the clothes and furs of the defeated bandits, who silently stripped off their garments.
Finally, the three took a hefty iron rod, which one of the bandits had used as a weapon.
The owner of the rod grumbled.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t take weapons, Master Nogun Three Swords?”
“If it were an ordinary weapon, sure. But this looks quite useful.”
It seemed this wasn’t the first time the Nogun Three Swords had relieved other bandits of their goods.
After ensuring they had gathered everything, the Nogun Three Swords patted the seven bandits on the back, adding a final remark.
“You know what to do if you want it back, right?”
The seven bandits nodded once and left with disgruntled expressions.
It was a bizarre situation in many ways.
Bandits had learned Wudang swordsmanship, a few had defeated many, and defensive swordplay had overpowered aggressive attackers. Even more unusual, no one was injured, and there seemed to be an intention to return the stolen goods.
Tang Mujin muttered to himself.
“I can’t make heads or tails of this.”
“Maybe it’s some traditional game of Nogun Mountain?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“I was joking.”
At that moment, the Nogun Three Swords, having gathered their spoils, scanned the surroundings. Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung instinctively concealed their presence.
They didn’t know what was going on, but it was best to avoid confrontation. These were the kind of people who might decide to rob Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung as well.
Fortunately, the Nogun Three Swords didn’t detect them.
Namgung Myung’s stealth skills were impressive, and Tang Mujin had learned a thing or two from him.
The Nogun Three Swords packed up their loot and left.
Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung waited until they were completely gone before getting up and continuing on their way.
They knew which direction to head in.
But the path was treacherous, with sheer cliffs, towering peaks, and precarious trails.
Finding the way was difficult, and more than once, they had to turn back when the path abruptly ended.
Yet, Tang Mujin had no complaints.
In fact, he was more than content.
“That looks like Atractylodes. Hold on a moment.”
“Again?”
“I’ve never seen Atractylodes grow so well. Usually, they only reach knee height, but that one is waist-high.”
Atractylodes is a plant with white flowers. Its leaves and stems are edible, but its true value lies in its roots.
The roots, known as Baekchul, Cheonchul, and Seonchul, are particularly effective for those with urinary issues and can alleviate bloating.
When Tang Mujin returned with the thick roots, Namgung Myung clicked his tongue.
“I don’t know much about medicine, but I know Atractylodes roots aren’t that expensive.”
“Ordinary ones, sure. But I’ve never seen any in such good condition.”
“You make good money. Can’t you just buy them?”
“Even with money, it’s hard to find ones this good.”
“I don’t get it. Even if they’re in good condition, the difference can’t be that huge. It’s not like there aren’t better herbs out there.”
Namgung Myung’s point was valid. But Tang Mujin, being a healer at heart, saw things differently. This was a matter of passion, not logic.
“Imagine the greatest martial artist stumbling upon a new martial arts manual. Would they just walk past it because they already know the best techniques?”
”…They’d at least take a look.”
“It’s the same. It’s something you just have to pick up.”
Namgung Myung sighed deeply. Both his and Tang Mujin’s packs were now bulging.
“Still, we can’t carry any more. We might have to leave some behind.”
“I know. That was the last one, I promise.”
But not long after, something else caught their eye.
“Is that… ginseng?”
”…Ginseng?”
They rushed over and dug it up, revealing a small ginseng root.
Despite its size, it emitted a strong, bitter aroma, and Namgung Myung brushed off the dirt with a grin.
“Since we can’t carry it, we’ll have to eat it here. Want some?”
Tang Mujin shook his head. Namgung Myung didn’t hesitate to pop it into his mouth.
The legend that the divine farmer Shennong once settled here seemed true, as Nogun Mountain was rich with medicinal herbs.
There were even peculiar finds like the small ginseng and century-old Polygonum multiflorum, which were too potent to be mere herbs yet not quite elixirs.
And that wasn’t all.
“Ouch!”
Turning around, Tang Mujin saw Namgung Myung clutching his ankle.
Behind him, something long and dark slithered away. A snake.
Tang Mujin approached with a satisfied smile and grasped Namgung Myung’s ankle.
The venom seeping into Namgung Myung’s body was drawn into Tang Mujin’s fingertips, and his unique ability naturally absorbed it.
Nogun Mountain was also home to many poisonous creatures: snakes, insects, butterflies, and plants.
While others might find this alarming, Tang Mujin welcomed it.
“It’d be nice to stay in Nogun Mountain for a while. Maybe a few months… or even a year.”
“Before you talk about staying a year, we should find a village to rest in.”
Namgung Myung grumbled as he stood up, and Tang Mujin resumed searching for a path with renewed determination.
However, a change in mindset didn’t magically reveal a path.
They were just wandering with a bit more enthusiasm.
“No path again.”
Once more, the path was blocked.
Knowing the direction but being unable to find the way was more frustrating than expected.
“We should head east to find a village.”
After wandering for a while, Namgung Myung seemed to make a decision.
“Why don’t we just boldly head east?”
“I’d like to, but there’s no path.”
“I mean, let’s climb down the cliff.”
Tang Mujin looked down the cliff. It was at least several dozen feet high.
But having seen cliffs hundreds of feet high, this one seemed manageable. The slope was slightly gentler than others.
‘No, climbing down a cliff because the path is troublesome is a foolish idea.’
Namgung Myung probably suggested it out of frustration, not seriously. Just as Tang Mujin was about to refuse, Namgung Myung added a comment.
“Well, it might be a bit scary.”
That one remark was the problem.
A man’s pride is a peculiar thing, often sprouting from the most unexpected places and stretching to uncontrollable lengths.
To make matters worse, both Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung were excessively young—an age brimming with a spirit of challenge and baseless confidence. Dang Mujin’s pride soared sky-high.
“Scared? Who’s scared? I was just figuring out the best way down. Looking for handholds and footholds.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. Follow me down.”
“Follow you? I’ll go first, and you can follow where I step. Got it?”
“Don’t go off in some random direction. Just step aside.”
“Stop being stubborn.”
After a brief squabble, neither willing to back down, Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung began their descent down the cliff.
Bravely, indeed.
”…”
However, in most cases, courage doesn’t solve problems. The cliff they had surveyed from above was a completely different beast when they were actually climbing down it.
They halted midway, unable to find any more handholds or footholds.
Going further down seemed impossible, and climbing back up was equally daunting.
Clinging to small protruding rocks to climb back up was a life-threatening endeavor. If a rock they grabbed or stepped on gave way, it would be the end.
They precariously moved sideways until they reached a small ledge. It was stable enough, but barely wide enough for them to sit, let alone lie down.
”…What do we do now?”
Namgung Myung asked, and Dang Mujin avoided answering.
At least they both realized they were being foolish. There was no room for prideful arguments now.
“Meh-eh-eh.”
From the opposite cliff, the bleating of a mountain goat echoed. It moved effortlessly along a much steeper cliff, where footholds seemed scarce.
The goat walked as if it were on flat ground, occasionally glancing at Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung, chewing something as if mocking them.
Namgung Myung spoke up, as if struck by inspiration.
“I’ve got an idea.”
“What is it?”
“We’ll invent a new movement technique based on that goat’s steps to get off this cliff.”
It was a ridiculous suggestion, but somehow tempting.
After all, weren’t there tales of martial arts masters who invented new techniques to escape dire situations?
As they silently watched the goat, a hawk swooped down and nudged it. The goat twisted and turned, letting out a mournful bleat as it fell off the cliff.
“Meh-eh-eh-eh-eh…”
Hearing the fading bleat, they realized that inventing a new technique might not be the best idea.
Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung pondered over how to survive this predicament. How could they get out of here alive?
Just then, they sensed a presence above the cliff.
“Did you hear that?”
“Was that a voice?”
Without hesitation, they both shouted toward the top of the cliff.
“Help us!”
“There are people down here!”
After what felt like an eternity of shouting, a face peeked over the edge. It was strangely familiar. Wasn’t it one of those Green Forest bandits they had seen earlier?
The round-faced one among them called out.
“Who are you, and what are you doing down there?”
”…We got lost!”
“Quite an unusual place to lose your way. Do you need help?”
It was the offer they had been hoping for. Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung swallowed their pride and nodded desperately.
“Yes, could you please pull us up?”
“Of course, as long as there’s a fair price.”
“A price?”
“You seem to have quite a bit of baggage. Promise to hand it all over, and we’ll pull you up.”
There was no room for negotiation. Namgung Myung agreed immediately.
“Deal!”
“First, let’s get your bags up. We’ll lower a rope, so tie your stuff to it.”
A rope descended the cliff. But Dang Mujin hesitated to tie his belongings, wary that the bandits might run off with their valuables.
He opened his bag, holding up a pouch of gold for the bandits to see. It was money from the Zhao family estate.
“See this gold? I’ll give it to you once we’re up!”
“Alright! Just tie your bags first!”
Their response was reassuring enough.
Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung tied their packs to the rope. The bandits hoisted their belongings up the cliff.
“We’ll check the goods first, so hang tight!”
They had no choice but to comply.
“Sure! Please hurry!”
Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung anxiously listened to the faint conversation above.
“These are pretty heavy. How much herbal medicine did they gather?”
“Not just expensive herbs, but a random assortment. They don’t seem like herbalists.”
“No, they might be. They’ve collected some quality stuff.”
“Really… But why do they have two sets of night clothes? Suspicious.”
“Hey, what’s this?”
“What did you find?”
“Herbs. But these aren’t from around here. They’re processed. What’s the term?”
“Processed?”
“Yeah, processed herbs.”
The conversation paused, then the round-faced bandit reappeared.
“Hey, the one with the processed herbs in your bag!”
“Yes!”
Dang Mujin quickly responded, and the bandit asked again.
“You’re not an herbalist? Why bring processed herbs here?”
“I’m not an herbalist; I’m a physician!”
“A physician? What are you doing here?”
“Physicians look for patients, don’t they? What else would I be doing?”
Dang Mujin shouted, and the bandits exchanged curious glances before asking again.
“The terms have changed! We don’t want your money or goods. Instead, treat some patients for us!”
“Are they bandits?”
“No, they’ve never wielded a weapon in their lives!”
Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung realized immediately. The ‘people’ they mentioned must be the villagers Ha-ryeong had asked them to help.
“Of course, I’ll treat them!”
“You’ll treat them regardless of their status?”
“Yes! A patient is a patient, no matter their status!”
Dang Mujin confirmed several times, but the bandits still seemed unsure.
Then, unexpectedly, the round-faced bandit asked a surprising question.
“Even if they’re rebels?”