Chapter 175: Chapter 8. Even the Fierce Wind Cannot Wash Away the Scent of Blood (4)

On one side of the clearing stood a small thatched cottage.

When Sage Hyeon-so, Un-gyeong, and the Mount Hua Sect disciples entered, the tiny cottage seemed as if it might burst at the seams.

Outside, Hae So-wol was playing with the children. The children, dressed in ragged clothes, looked at Hae So-wol with wonder.

A beautiful fairy-like woman carrying a sword—of course they would be amazed.

"Are you a martial artist, Miss?"

"How did you get here?"

Questions from the children poured forth.

Hae So-wol felt at a loss for how to answer. The children's curious gazes were somehow overwhelming.

Among them, one child caught her eye.

She was a young girl, perhaps four or five years old. Emaciated and with a distinctly sickly pallor on her face, she silently tugged at Hae So-wol's sleeve.

Hae So-wol picked up the girl and asked.

"What's your name?"

Instead of answering, the girl looked at Hae So-wol with anxious eyes.

"Are…are you here to take Grandfather away?"

"Grandfather?"

Hae So-wol's gaze turned toward the cottage.

Through the window, she could see Sage Hyeon-so sitting with the Mount Hua Sect disciples.

She couldn't hear what they were discussing from here.

"Are you really here to take Grandfather away?"

"No! Waaah!"

At the girl's question, the faces of the other children crumpled. Crying was quickly contagious, and all dozen or so children began to cry.

"K-kids!"

Hae So-wol's face showed bewilderment. Cold sweat trickled down her back.

Sage Hyeon-so looked at Un-gyeong. Un-gyeong couldn't meet his gaze and lowered his head.

The silence stretched to an unbearable length.

After staring at Un-gyeong for some time, Sage Hyeon-so finally spoke.

"How did you find this place?"

"I mobilized all the Outer Disciples. One of them reported seeing someone resembling you in Shanxi Province."

"Hm!"

"As I dug deeper into Shanxi Province, I heard that someone resembling you was raising orphans in a place called Clear Stream Valley. So I came to investigate, just in case."

"You've been through much hardship."

At Sage Hyeon-so's calm words, Un-gyeong raised his head involuntarily.

"Master! I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For abandoning Cheong-gyeong… I'm truly sorry."

These were words he had kept locked in his heart for the past thirteen years. The thought that he had abandoned his junior brother had kept him awake countless nights.

He had always thought he should apologize to Sage Hyeon-so someday, but he lacked the courage and kept postponing it.

At Un-gyeong's words, Sage Hyeon-so closed his eyes gently.

A name still lodged in his heart like a nail.

Dam Ho.

His only disciple, his child—that name.

After losing Dam Ho, Sage Hyeon-so's world had collapsed.

He couldn't even remember how he had lived for a time, so deep was his despair.

He came to his senses nearly two years after losing Dam Ho. During that long time, not a single person from the Mount Hua Sect had come to see him.

After that, he lived alone for several more years.

He tried to steady his mind by reading numerous Taoist scriptures. But his wounded heart did not heal easily, and his body and mind grew more weary.

Even then, not a single person from the Mount Hua Sect came to visit.

Only then did Sage Hyeon-so realize that he had been forgotten by the Mount Hua Sect.

He could only let out a hollow laugh.

He had lived his whole life for Mount Hua, loved Mount Hua—but had it all been a one-sided devotion?

With that, Sage Hyeon-so descended from Mount Hua.

Though he was still a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect, he could no longer stay on the mountain.

He wandered the world without destination.

His disciple no longer existed in this world, yet the world continued to spin. That ordinary daily life made Sage Hyeon-so's heart ache even more.

Sage Hyeon-so traveled throughout the world, cradling his wounded heart. Along the way, he met many people.

Beggars, the sick, those with heartbreaking stories, and orphans who had lost their parents in the chaos.

These were people he would never have met if he had stayed on Mount Hua.

Sage Hyeon-so mourned with their stories, laughed, and empathized. The wounds he had received from people were healed by meeting people.

Only then did Sage Hyeon-so realize.

The true Dao could not be found only in the mountains.

Only by entangling oneself among people could one truly obtain the Dao.

From that point on, Sage Hyeon-so threw himself into the world in earnest.

He went days without food and begged, he reformed villains, he was swindled, and he even took on rough jobs on boats. He threw himself into the world's hardships, meeting and experiencing countless people.

The human Sage Hyeon-so came to know the world, to know people, and to know himself.

As time passed, before he knew it, a dozen or so young children surrounded him. He had taken in wandering orphans one by one, and it had come to this.

Raising over a dozen children alone was never easy. He needed a stable environment. So he entered this Clear Stream Valley.

Sage Hyeon-so saw Dam Ho in the children's innocent faces. And so he gave them more love and care, finding peace of mind.

Sage Hyeon-so reached out and patted Un-gyeong's shoulder.

"It's all right. How could this be your fault alone? It was simply bad luck. That child's fortune had run out."

"M-Master!"

At Sage Hyeon-so's warm words, Un-gyeong's shoulders trembled. Something hot surged up from deep within his chest. And tears fell.

"Sob!"

Un-gyeong wept. And Sage Hyeon-so warmly embraced him. Watching this scene, the Mount Hua Sect warriors' faces were filled with solemn emotion.

The words that came to mind when thinking of Un-gyeong were things like dignified, composed, and cool rationality.

In the Mount Hua Sect, Un-gyeong had assisted Grand Senior Brother Mu-gyeong, presenting the direction the sect should take with a rationality and cold reason surpassing anyone else's.

He had never once shown a wavering appearance before his disciples.

Because of that, everyone respected and revered him.

Now, Un-gyeong was crying in Sage Hyeon-so's embrace, defenseless. That unfamiliar sight confused the Mount Hua Sect disciples' hearts.

After a moment, Un-gyeong composed his emotions and looked embarrassed.

"Master!"

"Did the Grandmaster send you?"

"Yes."

"Is the Grandmaster still in good health?"

"Yes."

"I'm relieved to hear that."

Sage Hyeon-so smiled.

Un-gyeong stared blankly at that pure smile, untainted by a single speck of dust.

His appearance was still the same Sage Hyeon-so he knew, but somehow he felt different.

He felt broader, deeper. As if a gentle radiance was shining from behind him.

Even the deeply experienced elders on Mount Hua hadn't given him this feeling.

'How?'

Doubt arose, but relaying the Grandmaster's words took priority.

"The Grandmaster wishes for you to return to Mount Hua."

"Now my senior brother is looking for me? Is something happening at Mount Hua?"

"Well…"

Un-gyeong bit his lip.

Seeing his pupils tremble, Sage Hyeon-so sighed.

"Something has happened, hasn't it?"

"Haven't you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"Cheong…gyeong."

"Cheong-gyeong? You mean the name?"

"It seems you haven't heard."

"Tell me quickly."

The composure that Sage Hyeon-so had maintained until now shattered like a porcelain bowl thrown against granite.

"Cheong-gyeong… is alive."

"What?"

"It's true. I don't know how he survived in that place, but he is alive and well."

"Is it true? Is Ho truly alive?"

"Yes. The Fist Demon Dam Ho. He is now the most famous martial artist in the Murim."

"The Fist Demon?"

"Yes."

"That is a fearsome title."

"His skill matches the title. Countless supreme masters of the Murim have fallen at his hands."

"I see."

Sage Hyeon-so was no longer surprised. Un-gyeong asked, surprised by his calm reaction.

"You're not surprised?"

"That child was special from a young age. He relentlessly pursued strength, and once he set a goal, he was tenacious enough to never give up. A slight limp? That was no obstacle for Ho."

"Unfortunately, only you knew that fact."

"Prejudice clouded their eyes. The prejudice that the incomplete could never be perfected. Those who only see what they want to see and only seek what they desire will never recognize such truth."

"I was one of those people as well."

Un-gyeong gave a bitter smile.

Because Dam Ho was lame, they had tried to exclude him from every situation, never trusting him. They had thought it was for Dam Ho's own good, but looking back now, it was nothing more than self-deception.

"So what does the Grandmaster want from me?"

"He wishes for you to return to Mount Hua."

"Return to Mount Hua? Because of Ho?"

"…"

Un-gyeong couldn't answer.

Sage Hyeon-so closed his eyes gently.

"I see. The Grandmaster has always done whatever it takes to raise the Mount Hua Sect's strength. It seems Ho appears in his eyes as a useful tool."

"I'm…sorry."

"What do you have to be sorry for? That is the Grandmaster's thinking."

"Master!"

"I will not return to Mount Hua."

At Sage Hyeon-so's declaration, Un-gyeong was startled. He hadn't expected such a firm refusal.

"But Master…"

"Mount Hua is my home. Someday I will return. But I will not return to become bait to lure in a disciple. That is my will."

"Master, please reconsider."

"My mind will never change. Because of an incompetent master, my disciple had to walk a path of endurance. I do not wish for my disciple to walk that arduous path again because of me. And I have already told Ho to live freely. That child is no longer a disciple of Mount Hua. Therefore, no one can bind that child to Mount Hua."

In Sage Hyeon-so's voice lay an unwavering conviction.

He had never once raised his voice at anyone while on Mount Hua. Now that he did for the first time, the sense of authority was palpable.

"When the time comes, I will come to Mount Hua of my own accord. Until then, leave me be."

"Master!"

Sage Hyeon-so closed his eyes, as if he had nothing more to say. Un-gyeong's face showed a troubled expression.

It was an unmistakable dismissal.

If he used force, he could certainly take Sage Hyeon-so away. But Sage Hyeon-so was his martial uncle. He couldn't lay a hand on him, nor did he want to.

"Please go back now."

"Master, I will not leave Shouzhou. I will remain at the Murim Alliance's Shouzhou branch, so if you change your mind, please let me know anytime."

"…"

"Until I see you again, please be well."

Un-gyeong and the Mount Hua Sect disciples bowed to Sage Hyeon-so and went outside.

Left alone, Sage Hyeon-so opened his eyes. Moisture gathered at the corners of those eyes.

"You were alive, Ho. Thank you. Thank you for being alive."

Tears rolled down the old master's cheeks.

Sage Hyeon-so's gaze turned toward the southern sky.

Clouds flowed rapidly, carried by the surging tides of the era.

Myowol dodged all the needles Jin Ja-gang had thrown and landed on the ground.

At that moment, a sharp crack pierced her ears and shook Myowol to her bones.

Myowol flinched. Her internal energy was momentarily disrupted and she nearly twisted her ankle while landing.

Myowol straightened her body and turned half a circle to avoid embarrassment. Her face reddened with shame. With a half-twisted face, she smiled murderously and looked back.

“This damned young Taoist!”

Woon-jeong held a wooden tablet called a hol in his hand as he looked at Myowol. The hol was an elongated wooden board about two spans long, a ceremonial tool held in hand when performing rituals or having an audience with the emperor.

Woon-jeong struck the two hol together once more.

Crack!

“Demon-Kneeling Beheading Twin Tablet Clapping.”

The sound of the tablets striking each other pierced sharply into Myowol’s ears.

Even covering her ears was useless. The internal energy flowed exquisitely through her ears into her brain, shaking her head and flowing out the other side. During that brief moment, her head became blank as a white sheet and she kept hesitating.

Crack, clack.

Every time Woon-jeong struck the tablets together, Myowol’s eyes contorted as if convulsing.

“This… no matter how I think about it, this is not right. It would be best if you stopped here and withdrew.”

Myowol ground her teeth audibly.

“Seeing you protecting and helping these evil spawn of the dark path, it seems the Taoist has also been possessed by demons! Amitabha, the seeds of demons were growing on Mount Qingcheng.”

Woon-jeong became angry.

“My actions have absolutely nothing to do with our Qingcheng Sect! And calling me a demon!”

“Didn’t the Taoist come on orders from Master Bok-cheon?”

“That’s correct. I came on my master’s orders.”

“Then why are you helping them? Surely Master Bok-cheon didn’t order you to help the evil ones of the dark path?”

“That’s not it, but…!”

“Then you’re disobeying your sect’s orders and acting on your own whim? May I tell Master Bok-cheon about this?”

“Eek! That’s too much. How could that be! If my master finds out…”

Woon-jeong was still young and innocent, so he couldn’t win against Myowol with words.

Bian Bu, who had been watching for an opportunity, interjected.

“Then why is the nun trying to kill people indiscriminately? Emei Sect told you to go as an observer, but you’re interfering on your own, so isn’t that the great crime of deceiving your master and destroying your ancestors? If you’re going to argue, wouldn’t it be proper to go argue with Emei Sect first!”

Myowol glared at Bian Bu with wide eyes. Bian Bu was startled and backed away.

Woon-jeong also realized from Bian Bu’s words.

“That’s right! Master Myowol, you also didn’t receive orders from Emei Sect to eliminate the evil ones of the dark path. So what you’re doing now isn’t right!”

Myowol suddenly let her arms hang down and looked up at the sky.

“Hoo…”

It looked as if she was acknowledging her mistake and giving up.

However, Myowol lowered her head again and muttered.

“Annoying…”

“…What?”

Myowol suddenly drew up tremendous internal energy.

BOOM!

An explosion occurred from Myowol’s body and air swept through the surroundings like waves.

“Uaaaah!”

Those nearby covered their faces and retreated. The chilling killing intent became thicker than before and covered the manor.

Myowol muttered quietly.

“I said it’s annoying.”

Sizzle sizzle…

Myowol’s collar, hair, and the dust on the ground began rising like heat waves. She was rotating tremendous internal energy through her conception and governing vessels at incredible speed.

The wheel of energy spun and overflowing power continuously spread to the surroundings, lifting everything around upward.

She was indeed a master ranking in the top five of the renowned Emei Sect.

“I should just kill all these bug-like things. Then wouldn’t my troubles also disappear?”

Myowol muttered while lifting her right foot. If she kicked the ground, there was no telling where she might fly.

It was impossible to know who Myowol would target first, but there was no way to avoid her first strike!

Just as Myowol was about to kick the ground and charge out.

Jin Ja-gang penetrated through the energy barrier Myowol had created and leaped in. It was a moment no one had predicted.

Jin Ja-gang thrust his dagger forward.

Whoooosh!

The energy barrier Myowol emitted became more intense. Jin Ja-gang’s clothes and hair were all blown backward and pushed away.

Quick-witted Dan Ryeong-gyeong moved together. Though her poisoning was worsening, she wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong gathered internal energy and unleashed a palm strike.

BANG!

The energy barrier shook. Myowol glared at Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong gave Woon-jeong a signal. Woon-jeong hesitated then raised his tablets.

“Ah, I don’t know either. Master, I’m sorry! Demon-Kneeling Beheading Twin Tablet Clapping!”

Clack!

The sonic technique was much more effective at disrupting Myowol’s composure. Every time Myowol flinched, the barrier became thinner.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong repeatedly sent palm forces. The thinned barrier shattered. Myowol leaped in place to avoid the incoming palm forces.

Crack!

Woon-jeong tried to interfere with Twin Tablet Clapping but was a bit late, so Myowol had already dodged.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong continued sending palm forces. Woon-jeong tried to time his Twin Tablet Clapping, but it wasn’t easy.

He had never attempted cooperative attacks with sonic techniques before, and attacking an Emei Sect senior together with dark path people weighed on his mind, making him consistently a bit late.

Fortunately, once the timing matched. Myowol hesitated mid-leap while trying to avoid Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s palm force. She frowned as if her head was throbbing.

THUD!

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s palm wind struck Myowol’s shoulder. Due to the rebound force from Myowol’s body, Dan Ryeong-gyeong who had struck her staggered. However, Myowol’s shoulder was also pushed back and she suffered minor internal injuries.

“Troublesome things…!”

Myowol’s eyes rolled back.

In that gap, Jin Ja-gang retreated about ten steps and used his fourth Mad Blood Heaven technique. Thanks to the Dengryeo Warming Pills, his qi and blood were considerably protected. However, this was the limit. No more Mad Blood Heaven technique would be possible.

Pop pop, pop pop pop.

Blood vessels burst in his right eye, making it much more bloodshot than before. The qi and blood in his right side burst and blood continued seeping… Jin Ja-gang drew out the internal energy sleeping in his meridians using the method Dan Ryeong-gyeong had taught him. In a more unstable state than before, the power of his internal energy increased another level.

Jin Ja-gang bit a dagger in his mouth and drew needles in both hands. Each needle was coated with false hellebore and Clear Blood Gland Snake poison. He pulled his left hand forward and right hand back, aiming at Myowol.

If not now, there would be no way to stop Myowol. Dan Ryeong-gyeong was doing her best but her complexion kept darkening, and Woon-jeong also bled slightly from his mouth each time he struck the tablets.

There was only one chance.

Jin Ja-gang carefully concentrated internal energy in both hands.

Whirr! Whirrr!

The internal energy bursting from his middle dantian was more vital than ever. However, Jin Ja-gang’s qi and blood supporting it was like a house built on sand, ready to collapse at any moment.

But Jin Ja-gang waited for the right moment as much as possible.

As internal energy exploded, he could draw up to six arcs with Flying Thread Twelve Branches. However, this time he needed to draw eight or more arcs.

Jin Ja-gang breathed in and out long and slowly, crouched like a beast waiting for just one moment.

Myowol thrust the Non-Killing Sword toward Woon-jeong.

Woon-jeong panicked and struck his tablets.

Clack! Crack!

Myowol approached then hesitated and hesitated again. Her head rang and ached as if it would split.

But Woon-jeong’s internal energy wasn’t inexhaustible either. As he struck the tablets, his internal energy gradually depleted. Each time, the power of the sonic technique weakened slightly.

Myowol swung the sword energy of the Non-Killing Sword. Woon-jeong became increasingly urgent and used footwork to dodge around Myowol.

Because of this, the precision of the sonic technique declined further. Myowol’s movements began to revive, and blood marks increased on Woon-jeong’s body.

“Ah! Ack!”

Still young Woon-jeong’s body stiffened with pain and fear each time he was wounded.

If Dan Ryeong-gyeong hadn’t occasionally sent palm forces to interfere with Myowol, his head would have already been severed.

At that moment, Jin Ja-gang finally swung both hands repeatedly and threw needles.

Whirr!

The poison needles flew toward Myowol drawing graceful arcs. Myowol turned her body to cut the needles flying from behind with the Non-Killing Sword’s sword energy. The needles were cut and fell in pieces.

“Twin Tablet Clapping!”

Woon-jeong hurriedly composed his breathing and struck the tablets, but Myowol had already finished cutting all the needles.

However, when Myowol hesitated at the late Twin Tablet Clapping, Jin Ja-gang charged while pulling the dagger from his mouth and stabbed at Myowol’s neck. Myowol’s contracted pupils moved smoothly following the dagger’s trajectory.

Jin Ja-gang used Bosam Sect’s blade technique to swing his arm powerfully as if striking down.

WHOOOM!

Even if Myowol blocked with her sword, he seemed intent on pushing through with force to penetrate her neck.

However, Myowol merely extended two fingers and blocked Jin Ja-gang’s dagger. Jin Ja-gang’s dagger was caught between Myowol’s middle and index fingers and stopped.

Clack!

Woon-jeong belatedly struck his tablets.

But by then Jin Ja-gang’s dagger had already broken between Myowol’s fingers. A mocking smile formed at the corners of Myowol’s mouth.

Woon-jeong was still just an inexperienced youngster.

Seeing Myowol’s smile, Woon-jeong panicked. He realized he was doing something wrong.

If he had properly executed Twin Tablet Clapping now, Myowol wouldn’t have been able to precisely catch Jin Ja-gang’s dagger, and then it would have been Myowol’s fingers that were cut.

However, Jin Ja-gang hadn’t staked everything on the dagger. As if he had expected Myowol to naturally block the dagger, as if he had anticipated that Woon-jeong wouldn’t execute Twin Tablet Clapping in time, the moment the dagger was caught he switched to Ilgok’s Golden Crow Hand technique, Capturing Dragon Strike.

He released the dagger and immediately grabbed Myowol’s wrist. Myowol struck upward at Jin Ja-gang’s wrist with her palm as soon as she broke the dagger with her fingers. She attached her back of hand to Jin Ja-gang’s back of hand and spun, causing Jin Ja-gang’s wrist to be caught in reverse.

Jin Ja-gang curved the fingers of his other hand like claws and stabbed at Myowol’s chest.

Myowol’s face reddened. No matter how old she was, she was still a nun.

Myowol became greatly enraged and while gripping Jin Ja-gang’s wrist, kicked Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen with her toes. Jin Ja-gang’s waist naturally bent from the pain in his internal organs.

Woon-jeong now had an almost tearful expression as he struck the tablets. This time too he failed to predict Jin Ja-gang’s actions and was too late with the tablets.

Crack!

However, when Myowol hesitated after kicking Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen, when she tried to stab the crouched Jin Ja-gang’s back with the Non-Killing Sword.

Myowol’s small pupils suddenly saw a needle that had flown right up to her eyes.

To be precise, it was a needle that had been flying from behind Jin Ja-gang. Hidden by Jin Ja-gang’s body so it couldn’t be seen, it became visible the moment Jin Ja-gang’s waist bent.

It was the single needle Jin Ja-gang had thrown with all his heart and soul. Unlike the previous needles, it had drawn as many as ten large arcs and flew much slower than the other needles.

But even though she saw the needle, Myowol couldn’t dodge it. She had hesitated due to interference from Woon-jeong’s sonic technique.

THUD.

The needle entered Myowol’s wide-open left eye, precisely into the contracted pupil.

“Huh?”

With her eye open, when the needle embedded precisely in her pupil, Myowol released Jin Ja-gang from shock and staggered backward.

Soon her eyeball became mushy. Blood vessels emerged and burst, turning her eye bright red. The Clear Blood Gland Snake’s poison began boiling inside her eye and her eye began melting.

“Ugh, uaaaah!”

Myowol screamed.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong struck Myowol’s back with all her strength using her palm.

THUD!

The palm strike hit properly. Blood gushed from Myowol’s nose and mouth. However, due to the rebound force of internal energy, Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s wrist also broke.

Woon-jeong kicked Myowol’s side with a tearful expression. The sound of ribs breaking rang out as Myowol’s body tilted sideways. Woon-jeong was also bounced away.

Myowol roared while spewing blood.

“Uaaaaah!”

Myowol looked at the three people with blood streaming from the hole where her left eye had been.

“How dare… How dare! I’ll kill you all!”