Chapter 215. Men Navigating Troubled Times (3)

Six men, each occupying their own seat, were all emanating an extraordinary aura from their entire bodies.

Their gazes were focused on Cho Yeon-woon and Hae So-wol. A considerable pressure weighed down on Cho Yeon-woon and Hae So-wol.

"It's been a while, Cho Yeon-woon."

The young warrior sitting closest greeted familiarly.

A seven-foot tall body with a physique that looked as hard as carved steel, and eyes that were equally intense and arrogant.

The moment he saw the man who looked so confident as if looking down on the world, Cho Yeon-woon's expression severely distorted.

"Nam Hak!"

One name that flowed out of his mouth.

He was Nam Hak, the Heavenly Thunder Martial Guest.

He was a member of the Nine Martial Dragons and a once-in-a-generation genius that the Joint Faction boasted of.

Once Nam Hak was confirmed, the others came into view. Those emitting a presence no less intense than Nam Hak were people Cho Yeon-woon was well acquainted with.

"I can't believe the Nine Martial Dragons have gathered in one place."

"It's been a long time."

"Cho Yeon-woon."

Those who each spoke a word were members of the Nine Martial Dragons.

Pyo Seo-un, the Swift Wind Yama, a disciple of the Jeomchang Faction and the young master of Yunchang Escort Agency, the largest escort agency in Yunnan.

Eom Tae-cheon the Shadowless Divine Dragon, the greatest talent produced by the mysterious Kunlun Faction.

Cheong-woon the One Star of Sichuan, an unrivaled warrior from the Qingcheng Sect recognized as a star of Sichuan by not only the Tang Clan but also Emei Sect.

Geum Han-su the Heavenly Strong Young Master, leading the revival of the Southern Edge Sect.

Lastly, Jin Mu-yeong the Peerless Sword, the hope of the Thousand Year Martial Hall, and Nam Hak were gathered in one place.

Including Hae Jung-hwa and Hae So-wol, seven of the Nine Martial Dragons were gathered in one place.

"How did you all…?"

Cho Yeon-woon's voice trembled involuntarily, perhaps from too much surprise.

"When the murim is in crisis, isn't it natural for us to step up?"

Nam Hak frowned as if asking about something obvious.

Jin Mu-yeong rose from his seat and approached Cho Yeon-woon.

"It's been a while, Yeon-woon."

"Jin Mu-yeong."

"I think it's been about three years. I've heard you've been through a lot during that time."

"Have you finished your seclusion?"

"That's right."

Jin Mu-yeong nodded.

An unapproachable pressure was flowing from his entire body. Although he was also one of the Nine Martial Dragons, his presence was incomparable to other warriors.

The rest of the Nine Martial Dragons also just watched as Jin Mu-yeong stepped forward, without saying much. From this, Cho Yeon-woon could tell that Jin Mu-yeong was leading this gathering.

Jin Mu-yeong was as lofty as a crane. An upright back, broad shoulders and back, and bold facial features. His piercingly clear eyes enhanced his presence.

Jin Mu-yeong wore a faint smile, looking very relaxed. It was the composure and confidence that could be shown because of strength.

"This is unexpected. To think I'd see seven of the Nine Martial Dragons in one place. Should I call this an honor?"

"Don't be so sarcastic, Yeon-woon. We know your martial prowess is not at all inferior to the Nine Martial Dragons."

"You flatter me."

"It's not flattery. I'm just saying what I see with my own eyes."

At Jin Mu-yeong's words, the corners of Cho Yeon-woon's eyes trembled slightly. It was because Jin Mu-yeong's piercing gaze seemed to see through everything about him.

Cho Yeon-woon was uncomfortable with Jin Mu-yeong's gaze. No, this whole gathering was uncomfortable.

Jin Mu-yeong offered a seat.

"Don't just stand there awkwardly, take a seat."

"Why did you call me here?"

"We can have a casual conversation between us. Do we need a reason to see each other's faces?"

"Mu-yeong."

"What's wrong?"

"I know you well. You're not someone who would arrange a gathering like this without any reason. Be honest. What's going on?"

"Just… I called you to see your face after a long time. It's about time we gathered."

Unlike the sharp-edged Cho Yeon-woon, Jin Mu-yeong was very relaxed. Cho Yeon-woon didn't like that relaxed expression.

It wasn't just Jin Mu-yeong. The entire Nine Martial Dragons, except for Hae So-wol, were giving off a similar atmosphere to Jin Mu-yeong.

'What is this? This loose atmosphere as if they've come out for a leisurely tour?'

Cho Yeon-woon's gaze sank deeply.

Shouzhou wasn't just a place with a branch of the Murim Alliance. It was a battlefield where fierce battles where life and death intersected several times a day took place.

Naturally, people's faces always had tension, and they were consciously or unconsciously wary of their surroundings. But now, no tension could be felt from the Nine Martial Dragons in this place.

"What do you mean? It's time to gather?"

"When the martial world is in crisis, shouldn't young martial artists join forces?"

"Join forces?"

"Yes! Wouldn't that be more efficient after all?"

Jin Mu-yeong answered while looking around. Everyone's gaze was directed at him.

The Nine Martial Dragons weren't simply the top talents of the murim. Most of them belonged to the Nine Sects, which could be called the best sects in the murim, and had the best status in their own sects.

Perhaps that's why, but their expressions were overflowing with confidence.

Cho Yeon-woon spoke gruffly.

"This is an honor. To be invited to such a gathering."

"You have more than enough qualifications. So don't make that expression."

"Hmph!"

Cho Yeon-woon crossed his arms. It was a clearly defensive posture. At this, Nam Hak spoke up.

"Mind your manners given the nature of this gathering, Yeon-un. Being invited here itself is an honor."

"An honor, you say?"

"If it weren't for Brother Jin's consideration, would you even have been invited to a place like this?"

"Haha! I'm tearfully grateful."

Cho Yeon-woon laughed holding his stomach.

At his attitude, several of the Nine Martial Dragons frowned. While Jin Mu-yeong highly evaluated Cho Yeon-woon, not everyone else felt the same way.

They thought that although Cho Yeon-woon was making a name for himself as the Drunken Cloud Dragon, he was still far inferior compared to the Nine Martial Dragons. Therefore, they were displeased that Cho Yeon-woon was invited to this gathering in the first place. They just couldn't express it openly given the nature of the gathering.

The conversation continued in a tense atmosphere, and Cho Yeon-woon's hardened expression showed no signs of softening. The same was true for Hae So-wol.

***

The first thing Sage Hyeon-geom saw when he opened his eyes was the worried faces of Woon Kyung and his disciples looking at him.

"Master-Uncle."

"Have you regained consciousness?"

The voices of the disciples rang confusingly in his ears.

After blinking his eyes for a moment, Sage Hyeon-geom soon realized his situation.

His whole body felt like it was being torn apart. His heart meridians were shaken, and his qi and blood were disturbed. He had suffered severe internal injuries.

"Did I… lose? To that child, Cheong Gyeong?"

"Master-Uncle!"

"Speak, Woon Kyung."

"I'm sorry."

"Is that so? You're saying I lost? To that cripple."

Sage Hyeon-geom gritted his teeth.

He couldn't accept the fact that he had lost. Because admitting that fact would be like denying his entire life.

He had practiced the sword for Mount Hua all his life.

After years of hard work, he became Mount Hua's number one swordsman, but because of Dam Ho, all the fame and effort he had built up until now were thrown into the mud.

Sage Hyeon-geom's face twisted unpleasantly. His shoulders and tightly clenched fists were trembling.

Woon Kyung and the Mount Hua disciples couldn't say anything. They could only watch.

Sage Hyeon-geom closed his eyes.

"Did I do something wrong? Did I, Hyeon-geom, make a wrong judgment? Is that really so?"

Heart demons came.

Numerous thoughts swirled in his mind.

Jealousy and anger, resignation and conflict mixed to create a gray emotion.

The gray emotion swallowed everything. Sage Hyeon-geom felt himself falling endlessly into an abyss.

Sage Hyeon-geom surrendered everything to the gloomy emotion. Darkness gradually eroded his mind.

A faint killing intent emanated from Sage Hyeon-geom's body. At this, the disciples cried out in shock.

"Ma-Master-Uncle!"

"Composure…"

Their faces, exposed to the killing intent, turned pale.

They too realized that Sage Hyeon-geom had fallen into a state of heart demons.

"N-No!"

Woon Kyung clenched his fists tightly.

There was almost no possibility for someone who had reached the level of Sage Hyeon-geom to fall into heart demons. Moreover, he had learned the mind techniques of Mount Hua Faction, which was of the righteous path. Even if he had fallen into heart demons, he should have been able to escape quickly.

But the reaction Sage Hyeon-geom was showing now was not normal.

Creak!

The formidable qi he was emitting made the objects in the room vibrate. Then, an enormous pressure weighed down on the Mount Hua disciples.

"Ma-Master-Uncle! Come to your senses."

"You shouldn't be like this. Ugh!"

The Mount Hua disciples screamed.

Fresh blood appeared at the corners of their mouths. They had suffered internal injuries from Sage Hyeon-geom's killing intent.

Kukukuku!

The qi emitted from Sage Hyeon-geom's body materialized and swirled. At this, the Mount Hua disciples were thrown about.

They were like leaves swept away in a torrent.

"Master-Uncle Hyeon-geom!"

Woon Kyung shouted with all his might.

His voice, close to a scream, penetrated Sage Hyeon-geom's heart. A ray of light spread in Sage Hyeon-geom's heart, which had been only dark.

The light created a mirror in his mind.

The image of Sage Hyeon-geom reflected in the mirror was only dark.

'Is that my appearance?'

It was an appearance he had never imagined even once.

He had lived his whole life for Mount Hua.

He took up the sword to protect Mount Hua, and walked the path of the sword all his life.

He should have shone more brilliantly than anyone else and received admiration.

'But that's my appearance?'

It was hard to believe.

He wanted to deny it. But he couldn't.

The black shadow in the mirror was clearly himself. It was the materialization of the darkness lurking in his heart.

Sage Hyeon-geom stared at himself in the mirror for a long time.

Now he had to admit it. Darkness was eroding his mind, and because of that, he had failed to make proper judgments and made judgments unilaterally.

The determination to protect Mount Hua created a monster in his mind. Now he understood that fact.

Suddenly, a verse from the Dao scripture flowed out between Sage Hyeon-geom's lips.

"Man does not reflect himself in flowing water, but in still water. Only when the mind is still can it reflect the world."

It was a passage from the inner chapters of Zhuangzi* that he had briefly seen once about ten or so years ago.

[T/N- Zhuangzi was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BCE during the Warring States period.]

Although he had been in the Mount Hua Faction for more than several decades, he had not read many Dao scriptures during that time because he was so focused on martial arts. Even those he had read, he had long forgotten after just reading them.

Why did that verse come to mind at this moment of all times?

His mind became calm.

The world was reflected in his calmed mind.

Light spread in his mind that had been stained with darkness. Along with this, a smile appeared on Sage Hyeon-geom's lips.

The killing intent and qi that had been swirling in the room stopped as if it were a lie.

"Ma-Master-Uncle?"

Woon Kyung's eyes widened as if they would tear.

Woon Kyung was second in rank among the first-generation disciples. There was no way someone like him wouldn't understand what the phenomenon happening before his eyes meant.

He quickly ordered the disciples.

"All of you go out and guard outside. No one is to be let in."

"Understood."

The disciples hurried outside without asking why. And they guarded outside thoroughly.

How much time had passed?

Sage Hyeon-geom quietly opened his eyes. A spiritual light appeared and disappeared in his eyes.

"Master-Uncle, are you alright?"

"You must have had a hard time, Woon Kyung."

"Master-Uncle?"

A voice tinged with spiritual light and a kind tone.

It was quite different from the Sage Hyeon-geom that Woon Kyung knew. The change was so dramatic that Woon Kyung couldn't easily believe the change happening before his eyes.

Sage Hyeon-geom suddenly got up.

Until just now, he couldn't even move because of severe internal injuries, but now he looked completely healed as if it had never happened.

"Master-Uncle?"

"I need to go see Hyeon-so."

Myowol bowed her head and apologized.

“I was wrong, Sect Leader junior sister.”

Master Eun spoke again in the same gentle voice as before.

“Stand up, lioness.”

Myowol tried to stand but swayed again. She had only received a few slaps, yet the great Demon Buddha still hadn’t recovered.

Master Eun said.

“The Tang family also needs someone to take responsibility for this situation. If we kill her now, there will be no one to take responsibility. Then we would owe a debt to the Tang family.”

“But then why did you bring me here?”

Master Eun asked calmly.

“Tell me, lioness. Who sent you here?”

“That was…”

Mang Ryo. Mang Ryo had told her that Poison Dragon seemed to have escaped.

“Mang Ryo… that person.”

Myowol wiped the blood from her burst lips and said.

“Sect Leader junior sister. We must kill this wench to make Poison Dragon pay for the suffering that benefactor Mang Ryo and I endured.”

Master Eun shook her head.

“That would be completely misunderstanding benefactor Mang’s intentions in the opposite way.”

“What?”

“He didn’t trust the King of Hell, and would have done anything to protect Poison Dragon. If Poison Dragon hadn’t set fire to the Library Pavilion, he would have incited you to break into the Library Pavilion.”

Grind.

At those words, Myowol ground her teeth.

“He tried to use me? But he must have known I would kill Poison Dragon if I met him?”

“He would also have known that Miss Tang here would save Poison Dragon.”

Master Eun asked Tang Ha-ran, who was pinned under Myowol’s foot.

“Who brought you here? Let me guess.”

Tang Ha-ran couldn’t answer.

Master Eun said with a smile.

“Benefactor Mang Ryo.”

Tang Ha-ran’s heart sank. She had fallen for Mang Ryo’s scheme.

But she didn’t regret it. If she had hesitated then, she wouldn’t have been able to save Jin Ja-gang from Myowol.

Instead of answering, Tang Ha-ran bit her molars tightly and glared at Master Eun.

“The crime of… causing disturbance in… our family… is not light… It would be… best to apologize and… withdraw now.”

Master Eun looked sad.

“Oh dear… this child still doesn’t understand her situation. Poison Dragon was quick-witted and ran away immediately upon seeing me, so why are you so foolish as to turn away from your own fate?”

Master Eun shook her head slightly.

“Let me tell you once more. You will now be expelled from your family. Poison Dragon…”

Tang Ha-ran actually knew what would happen to her from now on. However, at this moment she was paying more attention to Master Eun’s words about Poison Dragon.

“It would be best if Poison Dragon were caught. If he succeeds in escaping, the worst situation will befall the Qingcheng sect. Uncontrollable events will occur. Pitifully…”

Myowol’s eyes lit up as she interrupted.

“Then I’ll chase after him. I’ll go break his limbs and drag him back!”

“Sigh.”

Master Eun sighed and looked at Myowol.

“No, lioness. This is enough. We’re actually waiting for the latter situation to occur, so what would we do if you brought Poison Dragon back?”

Tang Ha-ran’s eyes widened as she bit her lips. Her hands trembled.

“Just how far… is Mount Emei planning… to interfere?”

Master Eun silently narrowed her eyes into crescents and smiled. It was a merciful and gentle smile.

However, having just seen Master Eun until now, Tang Ha-ran could see the cruelty and cunning hidden behind Master Eun’s smile.

“Sleep for a while. And remember, if you want to save Poison Dragon, you must keep your mouth shut.”

At Master Eun’s light gesture, Tang Ha-ran’s pressure points were sealed. Tang Ha-ran couldn’t resist her eyelids becoming heavier than a thousand pounds and lost consciousness.

* * *

The fire that broke out in the Library Pavilion was finally extinguished only after a full day and night had passed.

This was after half of the five halls and four compounds built above the Library Pavilion had burned.

It was the worst fire that brought shock and chaos to the Tang family.

The casualties were also considerable.

Dozens were injured and nearly twenty died.

Moreover, most of the deaths were from murder rather than fire, and even included Library Pavilion Master Tang Lim, creating even greater psychological panic.

Of course, even after thoroughly searching the Library Pavilion that had burned to charcoal, Jin Ja-gang’s corpse was not found.

The Tang family immediately sent pursuit teams in all directions. Five groups of six members each.

* * *

“Because the fire was so large, no matter how much we try to control word from spreading, it’s already become known throughout the martial world.”

Tang Ha-ran’s great-aunt.

Lady Li Hua, Tang Gui-ok, who was officially the Tang family head for external affairs, said to Tang Qing.

Tang Gui-ok had a small build like Tang Qing but couldn’t use her legs, so she sat in a small wheeled chair. Though she was seventy years old, ten years younger than Tang Qing, she looked much older.

Tang Qing paced around the room, clearly showing his bad mood. As he walked back and forth, he crushed walnuts on the table with his hands and chewed them with crunching sounds.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen elder brother hesitate to make a decision.”

“Don’t I look like that type?”

Tang Qing scolded Tang Gui-ok. Tang Gui-ok smiled with her wrinkled face.

“Heh heh heh, shall this younger sister take some abuse on elder brother’s behalf for once?”

“Do you think I’m hesitating because I don’t want to be criticized?”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m hesitating because it’s a waste. That fellow was a beast with wildness enough to make Ha-ran fall for him. If properly tamed, he could have become a great figure.”

Tang Qing, while speaking, couldn’t control his emotions and shouted.

“But this bastard has gone too far, way too far! If he causes trouble beyond what I can handle, I have no choice either!”

Crack.

The walnut in his hand crumbled to powder and fell.

Tang Gui-ok laughed.

“Heh heh, there are wild animals in the world that cannot be tamed. Because their wildness doesn’t disappear, they can remain wild animals forever.”

“I can’t forgive it. I can’t forgive it. Especially Ha-ran!”

“Isn’t it something that fellow Mang Ryo schemed? Though I’ve never met him directly, he seems to be an old man with a nasty disposition. He put the dangerous work in Ha-ran’s hands and slipped away himself.”

“That’s exactly why it’s more problematic! To foolishly fall for such tricks? How can Tang family blood fall for such schemes!”

“I know elder brother cherished Ha-ran. After my youngest nephew and his wife died, I also cherished that child. But in this situation, it can’t be helped. Heh heh heh.”

“I even brought an adoptive father to the marriage proposal meeting with Poison Dragon to save her face, yet how dare she do this to me!”

Tang Qing caught his rough breathing and asked.

“What should we do about Ha-ran’s punishment? Since you know the family’s customs and rules better, let me hear your thoughts.”

Tang Gui-ok answered as if she had been waiting.

“For the crime of betraying the family and going against grandfather’s will to help Poison Dragon escape, and for giving the family treasure Soul Seizing Thread to an outsider, she should be confined in the underground Jeol-ok prison. Also, since she gave her heart to a man and couldn’t control herself, she should not be allowed to remove her bridal veil until Poison Dragon is captured, so she may reflect on her crimes.”

If it became known to the world that Jin Ja-gang had escaped the Tang Family Great Compound by his own power, the Tang family’s face would be unspeakably crushed.

Therefore, by placing all the blame on Tang Ha-ran, the Tang family’s face could be maintained to some degree.

“Since it’s for the family, Ha-ran will gladly accept the punishment. Sacrificing for the family is a duty that must naturally be performed as Tang family blood.”

“Good. Proceed that way.”

Tang Gui-ok nodded, then asked as if something had occurred to her.

“Is there still no news about that wild beast-like child?”

“We haven’t found him yet. But that fellow absolutely cannot avoid the pursuit teams. I sent twice as many personnel again this morning.”

Tang Qing ground his teeth and showed killing intent in his eyes.

If caught, he would spare his life, but he couldn’t guarantee what condition he would leave him in.

* * *

Tang Ha-ran was imprisoned in the underground Jeol-ok prison of the outer courtyard outside the Tang Family Great Compound.

Being driven not just to simple house arrest but to the Jeol-ok prison outside the Green Smoke Gate meant she was practically exiled from the Tang family.

Beyond being simply confined, she was forced to wear a bridal crown and even wedding clothes.

“Since you betrayed the family, you shall wear wedding clothes and a blade while waiting for your bridegroom in the cold prison.”

By her great-aunt’s cold words, Tang Ha-ran couldn’t say a word in response and simply followed the punishment.

She had no desire to respond either. Nothing would change even if she did, and as Master Eun had said, to save Jin Ja-gang, it was much more advantageous for her to keep her mouth shut.

However, even if she didn’t speak, sitting in prison wearing wedding clothes was bound to be pitiful.

Tang Ha-ran felt her heart would collapse.

Though things had come to this, she wasn’t resentful that Jin Ja-gang had left her behind. Rather, she hoped he wouldn’t be caught.

But if that happened, Tang Ha-ran would be unable to remove these wedding clothes until she died. She would live and die as a family traitor, a rebel, wearing a bridal crown.

The marriage Tang Ha-ran had dreamed of, the future with the man who had made her heart flutter, had now become nothing but bubbles. Along with her own future as well.

“Sob.”

Tang Ha-ran forcibly bit her teeth and endured, but tears flowed down.

“Sob, sob.”

Kneeling with a gorgeous and heavy crown on her head, a heavy wooden blade hanging from her neck, her hands wrapped in silk cloth in a bowing position held at her chest, the red wedding dress’s hem spread on the floor.

A criminal and simultaneously a bride.

As Master Eun had said, Tang Ha-ran had become an ill-fated bride.

“Sob.”

Grief welled up and tears kept coming.

“Sob, sob!”

Tang Ha-ran bit her molars tightly but the crying wouldn’t stop.

The sound of Tang Ha-ran’s sobbing quietly echoed in the desolate prison.

* * *

The Tang family’s pursuit teams continuously swept through the vicinity of the Tang Family Great Compound and every corner of Sichuan’s capital city.

Because the Green Smoke Gate had been opened during the fire, countless people had come and gone, but some traces were bound to remain.

Particularly, Jin Ja-gang was limping and even had shackles on his legs.

Therefore, they could almost certainly find that he had gone outside through the Green Smoke Gate. Though they didn’t know how he had escaped through the complex alleyways of the inner courtyard, he had definitely escaped.

It was confirmed that he had hidden in various houses in the outer courtyard, then left on a cart.

However, his whereabouts after that were mysterious.

Some pursuit teams thought Jin Ja-gang would have hidden in crowded places and searched the capital, while other pursuit teams searched remote places where people wouldn’t go.

First, second, and finally even third pursuit teams departed, forming a huge net and sweeping through.

The routes to Qingcheng were blocked from the beginning, so there was no possibility he had gone that way.

Still, Jin Ja-gang was not found.