Chapter 94: Dragons and Tigers Gather in One Place (1)

A cool breeze swept across the mountain ridge. Leaves scattered into the air, carried by the wind.

An elderly Taoist watched the scene and murmured.

"It is fully summer now. This summer will be a hot one."

Sage Hyeon-cheon.

That was the Taoist's name.

He was no ordinary Taoist. He was the Grandmaster of the Great Mount Hua Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects—that was his true identity.

From Sage Hyeon-cheon's position at the upper palace, the entire Mount Hua was visible. The scenery of Mount Hua seen from here was truly magnificent.

"If I were to step down from the Grandmaster's seat, the view from this place would be what I miss most."

"It is still too early for you to step down, Grandmaster."

A middle-aged Taoist sitting across the table from Sage Hyeon-cheon spoke.

His Taoist name was Mu-gyeong.

He was the chief disciple of the Mount Hua Sect and was all but certain to succeed to the Grandmaster's position before long.

Time had made Mu-gyeong all the more mature.

He possessed a gravitas that would make him worthy of inheriting the Mount Hua Sect. Sage Hyeon-cheon placed great trust in such a Mu-gyeong.

As evidence, Mu-gyeong now handled most matters of the Mount Hua Sect. Of course, his reliable junior brother, Un-gyeong, was always by his side.

The trust the Mount Hua disciples placed in Mu-gyeong was exceedingly deep. His handling of affairs was also very fair, and among the Mount Hua disciples, there was not a single one who disliked him.

In contrast, Un-gyeong was cold and composed. He always judged situations with perfect clarity and guided them in the most rational direction.

The two were a perfectly complementary relationship. As long as both remained, the future of the Mount Hua Sect would be bright—that was the consensus of the world.

Because Mu-gyeong and Un-gyeong were there, even Sage Hyeon-cheon could speak of retirement.

"Am I not already in a state of semi-retirement? It is because you and Un-gyeong are doing so well that I can enjoy this much leisure."

"The shadow of Master is still needed."

"That you say so, even in words, is enough."

Sage Hyeon-cheon smiled.

"I do not speak out of politeness. I am still greatly lacking."

"No one is perfect from the start, Mu-gyeong."

"Master."

"When I first took over the Mount Hua Sect, many things were in disarray. It was truly desperate back then. But now, much has changed."

No one anymore called the Mount Hua Sect the weakest among the Nine Great Sects. The present Mount Hua Sect possessed fighting strength that placed it among the upper echelons of the Nine Great Sects.

To reach this point, Sage Hyeon-cheon's efforts had been immense. And Mu-gyeong knew this better than anyone.

That was why he revered Sage Hyeon-cheon above all, trusted and followed him. To Mu-gyeong, Sage Hyeon-cheon was far more than a mere master.

"Mount Hua must remain an unshakable mountain, regardless of what winds blow. There is no being of greater value than Mount Hua. Do you understand?"

"I will keep that in mind."

"That is enough."

Sage Hyeon-cheon smiled with satisfaction.

"You need only climb a little further. The summit is not far off. Once the Murim Alliance is established, much will change. Once we pass this hurdle, the Mount Hua Sect will stand upon firm ground once more."

"That will surely come to pass."

"Yes! After that, I will pass the Grandmaster's seat to you and retire."

Sage Hyeon-cheon's gaze, which had been scanning all of Mount Hua, stopped at one place.

Cloud Peak—the location of the True Martial Palace, the symbol of the Mount Hua Sect's martial strength.

"If only Hyeon-geom were here."

"What can be done? He has gone to gain new insights for his further development."

"True! It cannot be helped."

"But with Martial Uncle Hyeon-mu gone as well, it should be handled properly."

"Yes! Hyeon-mu is also someone we can trust."

Sage Hyeon-mu was Sage Hyeon-cheon's junior martial brother. Though he could not compare to Hyeon-geom, his martial arts were among the upper echelons even within the Mount Hua Sect.

More importantly, Sage Hyeon-mu possessed a rational and calm temperament. No matter who he faced, he was never shaken, making him an invaluable asset in negotiations with other sects.

"And with Myeong-gyeong there as well, there should be no significant problems."

"True. I was worrying for nothing."

At the mention of the name 'Myeong-gyeong,' a smile appeared on Sage Hyeon-cheon's lips.

The martial artist called the greatest of the Mount Hua Sect—Sage Hyeon-geom—had personally selected and raised Myeong-gyeong as his disciple.

When he took in a mere outer disciple, bypassing the first and second generation disciples, there had been much talk. But as time passed, everyone came to understand.

Myeong-gyeong was a rough gem hidden in the mud.

When Sage Hyeon-geom carefully wiped away the mud, a brilliance that outshone any jewel was revealed.

His talent for the sword was terrifying—even first-generation disciples like Mu-gyeong and Un-gyeong, who had trained at Mount Hua for many years, felt a chill run down their spines.

The combination of a great master and a disciple of extraordinary talent produced results that seemed impossible.

The phrase 'renewed daily' seemed to exist solely for Myeong-gyeong.

In a mere twelve years, Myeong-gyeong had come to possess the greatest martial strength among the first-generation disciples of the Mount Hua Sect.

Even the proud Mu-gyeong and Un-gyeong had to raise both hands in surrender before Myeong-gyeong's talent.

Sage Hyeon-geom had sent his disciple, Myeong-gyeong, out into the world.

It was to allow him to gain experience.

The experiences of the world would make him even stronger.

"Myeong-gyeong will surely become the Guardian Sword of the Mount Hua Sect. Once Myeong-gyeong establishes himself, it will be a great help to you in leading the Mount Hua Sect."

"I am aware."

"Handle Myeong-gyeong well."

"Yes, Master."

"Then I shall take my leave."

"Then…"

Mu-gyeong offered a cupped-fist salute to Sage Hyeon-cheon and exited.

"Whew!"

Once outside the upper palace, Mu-gyeong let out a long breath.

A middle-aged Taoist who had been waiting outside approached him.

"Senior Brother."

"Have you waited long, Un-gyeong?"

"No."

The Taoist who shook his head was none other than Un-gyeong, Mu-gyeong's junior brother. While Mu-gyeong spoke with Sage Hyeon-cheon, Un-gyeong had been waiting outside.

The passage of time was very fair; the hair at Un-gyeong's temples had begun to turn gray. But with that, his gaze had deepened and become even more composed.

"How is Master?"

"In his mind, there exists only one word."

"Mount Hua!"

"Indeed! He thinks of nothing but the Mount Hua Sect."

"With the founding of the Murim Alliance imminent, he must be even more sensitive."

At Un-gyeong's words, Mu-gyeong nodded.

The two walked side by side.

"Senior Brother, are you coming out?"

"We greet the Grand Elder."

First-generation and second-generation disciples greeted them one after another.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over Mu-gyeong's eyes. Un-gyeong knew the reason.

"Are you thinking of Junior Brother Cheong-gyeong again?"

"It is my fault. I abandoned him."

"It is not your fault, Senior Brother. Anyone would have had no choice but to do the same."

"If only I had listened to you, if only I had not brought him in the first place…"

Mu-gyeong's voice was filled with remorse.

For the past twelve years, there had not been a single day when he did not recall that memory. That was why he had trained himself with even greater severity. Without doing so, he could not endure.

Suddenly, Mu-gyeong's gaze turned toward Cloud Peak. At the summit of Cloud Peak stood the True Martial Palace. But what Mu-gyeong was looking at was not the summit, but the slope below.

"How is Martial Uncle?"

"He is the same as ever. Since that day, he has not stepped out of his dwelling even once."

"Haah!"

Mu-gyeong sighed.

His heavy breath echoed in the hot summer sky.

***

Dam Ho left the inn and headed for the Heaven's Above Tower—the Akyang branch of the Haowen Sect.

Un-jeong greeted him.

"Welcome. The Tower Master is waiting."

Dam Ho looked at Un-jeong in silence. At that, Un-jeong gave an awkward smile.

This was already the third time they had met, but she still could not get used to Dam Ho's expressionless face. His eyes, devoid of any emotion, sent a chill down her spine every time she saw them.

"Lead the way."

"Yes! Please follow me."

Dam Ho followed Un-jeong.

"Ai! You can't touch that there!"

"Hohoho! How impressive he is!"

Though it was still early evening, the inside of the Heaven's Above Tower overflowed with the laughter of courtesans.

Through the open doorways, one could see men burying their faces in the courtesans' bosoms. The rooms were hot with feverish energy.

It was an atmosphere that no man could resist.

Un-jeong, walking ahead, glanced sideways at Dam Ho. But Dam Ho did not spare a single look at the rooms as he walked.

'Well, that man would not be one to give such things a second glance.'

Un-jeong felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

A short while later, the two arrived at Gi Ye-hwa's room.

"Welcome."

Gi Ye-hwa greeted Dam Ho with a smile.

Already beautiful, Gi Ye-hwa's smile filled the room with a bewitching atmosphere.

Even Un-jeong, a woman herself, felt her heart flutter at Gi Ye-hwa's smile. It was not a natural smile.

It was a highly refined technique known as the Celestial Fragrance Smile, capable of enchanting others through one's smile alone. Currently, among all the courtesans of the Haowen Sect, Gi Ye-hwa was the only one who could perform it.

Un-jeong was slightly surprised. It was the first time she had seen Gi Ye-hwa use the Celestial Fragrance Smile.

Any ordinary man would have fallen to his knees and begged for her love on the spot. But Dam Ho's eyes remained cold as ever.

Even the Celestial Fragrance Smile had no effect on Dam Ho.

Gi Ye-hwa let out a soft sigh.

"You are truly a cold one. Well, what brings you here today? I thought our business was concluded."

"Track down Jo Yun-san's whereabouts."

"So you were unable to find him after all?"

"…"

"From what I have gathered, Jo Yun-san appears to be an exceedingly meticulous person. Such a man would not reveal himself easily."

"And?"

"It means it may take some time."

"I do not care how long it takes. Ten years, a hundred years—I do not care. Just find him."

"My, the person who becomes your enemy will never sleep soundly. You never forget any grudge and will surely exact your revenge."

Gi Ye-hwa let out a soft sigh.

Her expression was startlingly alluring. But it could not shake Dam Ho's cold eyes.

Gi Ye-hwa looked directly at Dam Ho.

He was still cold and devoid of any expression. Suddenly, she wondered whether this man even possessed human emotions.

The rumors surrounding this man were all terrifying. Since first revealing himself in Sin-gang, his hands had not known a day without blood.

Wherever he went, death followed, and countless people had been forced to shed tears of blood. Perhaps Dam Ho was the first martial artist to have accumulated such a fearsome reputation in so short a time.

For now, the great sects like the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families were too focused on the gathering in Hunan Province to pay attention, but in the future, once they had the leisure, it would not be strange at all for him to be declared a public enemy of the Murim world.

"You said the time does not matter, no matter how long it takes?"

"Yes!"

"Very well. In that case, it is worth attempting. I have just one question. By any chance… did the Black Tiger Group also raid the place where you lived?"

"…"

Dam Ho did not answer. But sometimes, silence conveyed more than a thousand words.

'So he has a grudge against Jo Yun-san and the Black Tiger Group.'

Dam Ho looked exactly as he had when he first entered. His gaze was unchanged, and there was no shift in his expression.

That was precisely what made him so terrifying.

If one became the enemy of such a man, one would never know a single day of peace. Gi Ye-hwa felt pity for the man named Jo Yun-san.

Gi Ye-hwa's gaze turned cold.

"Then how will you pay for it?"

"Pay…"

"To have discovered Jo Yun-san and the Black Tiger Group, the value of the Mystic Eye Stone has been fulfilled. If we are to enter a new arrangement, a new payment is required. That is the way of commerce."

Dam Ho drew something from within his robe and placed it on the table.

"What is this?"

In that instant, Gi Ye-hwa's eyes wavered.

It was another Mystic Eye Stone.

Much smaller than the one Dam Ho had produced before. Yet it radiated a clearer, brighter light. It was a far more exquisite gem.

When escaping from the underground cavern, Dam Ho had taken two Mystic Eye Stones. This was the last one.

It was a treasure that could fetch a far higher price than the first Mystic Eye Stone. It was no wonder Gi Ye-hwa's eyes wavered.

Dam Ho had expected Gi Ye-hwa to accept the deal. But her answer was entirely different from what he had anticipated.

"You can keep the Mystic Eye Stone."

"…"

"In its place, I have another request."

While the other workers descended, Jin Ja-gang continued laying tiles in the rain. The roof was extremely slippery.

His feet slipped several times on the rain-soaked tiles, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. If he fell, a broken leg would be the least of his concerns.

But a small smile appeared on Jin Ja-gang’s face.

He had figured it out. A way to use poison.

But he still needed one more thing…

Jin Ja-gang suddenly noticed ginkgo fruits rolling across the roof, blown by the wind and rain.

Around Poison Valley’s halls grew ginkgo trees that must have been at least hundreds of years old. Kunming Lake had clusters of ginkgo trees, and the area where Poison Valley was located was no exception.

Jin Ja-gang put a ginkgo fruit in his mouth.

The soft outer skin burst with a pop, releasing a foul smell. The fruit contained poison. His mouth felt tingly and numb.

Crunch. He bit through the soft outer skin to the hard shell inside. The ginkgo nut inside the shell also contained toxins.

After thinking for a moment, Jin Ja-gang spat out the hard shell and the ginkgo nut inside.

Then he looked up at the sky.

Was it coincidence?

The conditions for using poison had aligned.

Except for one thing.

This time, he would need heaven’s luck to succeed with that one missing element.

Having found his method, Jin Ja-gang worked diligently laying tiles without a moment’s laziness. The workers watching from below were even concerned about his health, given his intensity.

* * *

Nearly ten days had passed since Jin Ja-gang began working.

Having spent eight years hammering in the mine shaft, he was particularly good at nailing and could easily carry heavy loads.

Jin Ja-gang worked continuously from morning until night with a ginkgo leaf in his mouth.

Next to the main hall was a temporary shelter made of straw mats where the workers stayed. Most workers would drink or rest there after finishing their day’s work.

But Jin Ja-gang would do something until it was completely dark. He would either collect ginkgo fruits or continue working.

Even seasoned construction workers were amazed. Jin Ja-gang seemed particularly fond of laying roof tiles, climbing up to the roof day and night to work on them. His limp didn’t seem to hinder him much.

Finally, two days before the Yunnan poison sects’ general assembly.

The construction was barely completed.

Though not abundant, food and alcohol were provided at the temporary shelter.

The foreman gathered the workers and praised them.

“Good work, everyone. Fortunately, it didn’t rain yesterday or the day before, so we managed to finish the construction on time. Today, have a drink and then go home and wait.”

The workers felt relieved that the work was done, but their faces showed concern about not getting paid.

“Hey, is this your first time working with me? I’ll make sure to collect your wages and distribute them, don’t worry.”

The workers tried to shake off their anxiety and picked up bottles of alcohol.

“Well, worrying won’t change whether we get paid or not. Let’s drink!”

“That’s right. Let’s eat and drink first.”

The shelter became lively as the workers drank and ate.

The foreman looked around and spotted Jin Ja-gang sitting alone in a corner. Jin Ja-gang had a yellow ginkgo leaf in his mouth, sitting quietly.

“You worked the hardest. Here, have a drink.”

“Thank you.”

The foreman poured Jin Ja-gang a drink and downed a bowl himself.

“I’ve been doing this work for over twenty years, but I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you. The job is pretty much done, and we need to take down the shelter tomorrow. Do you have somewhere to go?”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

“If you don’t have anywhere to go, come to my house. You’ll need to stay a few days to get paid anyway.”

“Thank you for your consideration, but I don’t want to impose…”

“Why is a young man like you so reserved? When an elder tells you something, you should just accept it. What are you going to do without money? Sleep on the streets?”

The foreman pressed down on Jin Ja-gang’s head, ruffling his hair.

“What? What?”

The foreman even put his arm around Jin Ja-gang’s shoulders.

“Jin Ga, are you interested in carpentry work? I can let you stay at my house, so think about it. If you follow me and learn, you’ll at least be able to feed yourself.”

“Haha… I’ll think about it…”

It had been a long time since he’d experienced someone’s friendly gesture.

Jin Ja-gang was so flustered that he even broke a sweat.

* * *

The next day, the shelter was dismantled as construction wrapped up.

After the cleaning was finished, most of the workers prepared to leave by mid-morning.

Only Jin Ja-gang and the foreman, who had nowhere to go, remained.

“Aren’t you leaving, Foreman?”

“I am. Come with me.”

“No, I thought I’d give the floor another coat of paint if there’s time.”

“Hey, this is a real sickness. No one’s going to pay you more for working that hard. It’s enough, so stop and come here.”

The foreman practically dragged Jin Ja-gang along.

The foreman pointed to a village visible in the distance.

“My house is over there. It takes about two hours to get down there. Let’s go have lunch and come back. We can finish the rest of the work together in the evening.”

“If you’re coming back, I’ll just stay here…”

“Why are you so stubborn? An elder is asking you to share a warm meal for once.”

Jin Ja-gang was uncomfortable socializing with others. The foreman was simply showing kindness, but that kindness could cost him his life. The kinder someone was, the more Jin Ja-gang needed to keep his distance.

“I’ll stay.”

“I said come with me.”

“I still want to stay.”

“Hey! Are you trying to make me raise my voice? Do you think I’m a joke? Huh?”

The foreman’s anger was drawing attention from others.

With no choice, Jin Ja-gang had to follow the foreman.

“Let me get my belongings first, and I’ll meet you at the main gate.”

“F-fine. You’d better come. I’ll wait for you.”

The foreman kept looking back as he descended from Poison Valley.

Forceful kindness.

Harmless mischief.

It was somehow sad that Jin Ja-gang couldn’t simply accept such situations comfortably.

Jin Ja-gang had no belongings to collect. He was just trying to hide the foreman from any watchful eyes.

There were still many people coming and going. Jin Ja-gang wandered around killing time, then slipped out of Poison Valley among the crowd.

He then joined the foreman, who was waiting at the main gate, and together they went to the foreman’s house.

The foreman’s house was at the edge of the village.

Being a carpenter, his house wasn’t fancy but was built solidly and practically.

“Honey! I’m home.”

A middle-aged woman came out to greet the foreman. She was his wife, with the warm appearance of any kind-hearted village woman.

“You’ve brought a young man with you? My goodness, you’re both filthy. Go wash up quickly. I’ll have the meal ready by the time you’re done.”

The foreman took Jin Ja-gang to the stream behind the house. Being a modest household, they couldn’t afford the luxury of heated water.

“Splash, splash!”

The foreman quickly washed just his face and got up.

“You should take a proper bath since it’s been a while.”

“What? I can just wash my face too.”

“You smell. You need to wash properly. I’ll bring you some clothes.”

Jin Ja-gang felt embarrassed at being told he smelled.

“Haha…”

He had been careful about the ginkgo smell, but apparently it hadn’t worked.

The foreman grinned.

“You smell because you’re always eating those ginkgo nuts. Most people get sick from eating those, but you seem fine. Anyway, that’s why you need to wash.”

With that, the foreman left Jin Ja-gang behind.

Jin Ja-gang thought the foreman had a point.

Tomorrow, many people from the poison sects would be gathering. If he appeared smelly or dirty, he would likely draw unwanted attention.

The smell of ginkgo fruits was quite strong, after all.

Jin Ja-gang thought it would be better to wash up for tomorrow.

So he was undressing to get into the water when… suddenly he sensed someone approaching.

Startled, Jin Ja-gang pulled out a poison needle from inside his clothes.

“Um…”

A simple country girl who appeared to be around Jin Ja-gang’s age approached. The girl’s face turned red seeing Jin Ja-gang half-undressed.

“Dad asked me to bring you clothes to change into.”

Looking closely, her face resembled the foreman’s.

“Thank you.”

The girl left the clothes and quickly ran away.

Jin Ja-gang also felt awkward and promptly dunked his head underwater.

* * *

“…”

The foreman and his wife were so shocked they couldn’t even eat, just staring with their mouths open.

With them gaping at him across the dinner table, Jin Ja-gang felt embarrassed.

“My goodness…”

“Hey, was that your real face all along?”

The foreman and his wife couldn’t hide their amazement.

“How does a laborer have such smooth skin?”

“How are you more beautiful than the lady from the lower village? What’s your secret?”

Jin Ja-gang’s skin, after being thoroughly washed, was beautiful. It was white and translucent, with a natural glow.

When he was dirty and grimy, they had no idea he looked like this.

“Were you perhaps the son of some high official that we commoners couldn’t even approach?”

Jin Ja-gang laughed awkwardly at the foreman’s question.

“No. I’m not.”

“Hmm… But you have such a noble air about you. You don’t seem like someone who should be doing this kind of work.”

Jin Ja-gang stated firmly:

“You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.”

“That doesn’t really fit the current situation, does it? Hmm… really.”

“Foreman, let’s stop talking about this and eat.”

“What’s with the ‘foreman’? Just call me Mr. Jang.”

Mr. Jang called his daughter over and pointed at Jin Ja-gang.

“Rangrang, isn’t he handsome?”

The daughter’s cheeks turned red again.

“Haha, look at how red her face is.”

“Oh my! I’ll go get some water.”

Mr. Jang finally picked up his chopsticks. While eating, he subtly asked Jin Ja-gang:

“What do you think of my daughter?”

Jin Ja-gang nearly choked on his food.

“Cough! …What?”

Having apparently discussed this with his wife beforehand, Mrs. Jang didn’t seem surprised at all.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Mr. Jang’s expression. There was no hint of joking; he was completely serious.

“Let me be honest. I really like you. You’re more diligent and hardworking than anyone I’ve ever seen. That’s why I’m interested. When I asked if you wanted to learn carpentry, it wasn’t just a casual suggestion.”

Mrs. Jang added:

“I heard from my husband that you have a slight disability. In today’s world, that kind of flaw is nothing to worry about.”

“Well, I’m not asking you to decide right away. You can stay with us for a few days and get to know each other. To be honest, now that you’re cleaned up, you look even better than I expected, which is a bit concerning.”

Mr. Jang smiled good-naturedly.

Jin Ja-gang was taken aback, having no idea that Mr. Jang’s persistent invitations to his home had such implications.

Jin Ja-gang quietly ate his meal.

The table was neatly set. Steaming rice, stir-fried mushrooms, potato strips, eggplant dishes… and a large bowl of meat soup that seemed specially prepared.

It was a simple but warm meal filled with genuine care.

A long time ago, from memories so faint they were barely there… the kind of warm meal his mother used to make.

Jin Ja-gang felt a surge of emotion.

It had been eight, no, almost nine years.

A home-cooked meal he thought he would never eat again.

Eating this meal brought back memories of his happy past. Memories of his childhood days when he knew nothing and thought everything would last forever.

Jin Ja-gang felt a lump in his throat.

Perhaps… perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad.

An ordinary life.

Waking up at dawn every day, going to work with ordinary people, coming home at night to cook and eat with a wife… having children one by one and watching them grow up… that kind of life.

Not having to live in constant tension as if walking on thin ice, being able to enjoy life at a leisurely pace. If things went well, he might even have a prosperous old age.

In his later years, his children and grandchildren would hold celebrations wishing for his longevity. He would meet a peaceful death surrounded by many family members and descendants.

He would never again have to live trapped in that dark, damp mine shaft where no light entered…

The emotion that came from imagining such an ordinary, simple life made his heart swell.