Taeheo Jinin's Gaze
“It’s so peaceful here that it’s making me uneasy.”
“...Did we not run into bandits just yesterday?”
“They took one look at my face, shouted ‘Westerner!’ and ran off. I wouldn’t call that peace being broken.”
By now even the mountain bandits living in these hills seemed to recognize me. I fiddled with my now-heavy purse, fattened by the bandits and petty criminals I had caught along the way, and thought to myself.
“Your reputation must have spread widely across Hubei by now, Benefactor. After what happened last time, you’ve already taken down three demonic leaders on the way here.”
“Not that I intended any of it...”
One had tried to ambush us in the middle of the night after catching sight of Hyeryeong and failing to control his lust, only to have his head split open by me. Another had been strutting around an inn until I cracked his skull and handed him over to the authorities.
A criminal acting so arrogant. Did he really think there was no one stronger than him in the world?
And he was only at the very edge of first-class.
“Whether you intended it or not, your righteous deeds have made the name of the Lion Sword Hero known throughout Hubei. Even ordinary bandits have no choice but to panic and flee at the sight of you.”
“...Enough. Your praise is excessive.”
“But you really did accomplish that much, Uncle.”
Don’t cling to my arm while saying that. The distance between us seemed to be shrinking with each passing day.
I forced myself to ignore the soft sensation against my forearm and looked ahead.
An endless uphill path.
Climbing this slope would eventually bring us to the Wudang Sect.
With a face full of emotion at finally reaching the end of our journey, I gazed toward the peak of Wudang Mountain. The mountain gate was faintly visible at the end of the road.
People in Daoist robes and martial attire mingled as they passed by us.
Most were probably pilgrims or visitors who had come to see Wudang. The sight reminded me of Jerusalem back then.
After we occupied the place, once some time had passed, countless people had flocked there on pilgrimages and such.
Of course, it was taken back in less than three months and the flow of visitors dried up again.
“Uncle, what are you planning to do once we reach Wudang?”
“Well, look around the buildings... and enjoy the scenery of Wudang Mountain from the sect itself.”
Honestly admitting that I had come to find a hidden master somewhere on the mountain would have been awkward, so I gave a suitably vague answer.
“You’re just going to sightsee?”
“...I do want to find a clue to breaking through my wall, but that isn’t something I can force. I’ll have to leave it to fate.”
If the hidden master wished to meet me, he would appear on his own. If he did not, then even if I found him, he would refuse.
Whether he helped me or not was entirely up to the old master’s will. In the truest sense, it was something I could only pray for.
...Still, if I could spar a bit with the Wudang Daoists, maybe I would find some kind of clue.
Among the martial arts of the Central Plains, Wudang’s swordsmanship was the closest to a knight’s. Though both used flexible swords, their approaches were polar opposites, so there was much to learn.
I would have liked to spar with a master stronger than myself if possible, but I had no way of knowing whether that would happen.
It was not common for a sect to allow outsiders to spar with its members, and if the master who accepted the match lost, it would damage their reputation.
While lost in these thoughts, I suddenly realized the entrance to the Wudang Sect was drawing near. On either side of the gate, Daoists stood with stern eyes, inspecting each visitor before allowing them through.
“Uncle, their security is quite thorough.”
“Of course. They have no desire to let dangerous individuals into their sect. Doesn’t Haenam Sword Clan do the same?”
“Hmm... Haenam Sword Clan rarely has outsiders coming and going at all.”
That made sense. Unlike Wudang, there was little reason for people to visit. It was an isolated island at the southwestern edge of the Central Plains with nothing particularly worth seeing, so outsiders had no real cause to stop by.
At best, fishermen or merchants might call in for trade.
“Seeing the imposing aura of a great sect radiating from the very entrance, I can feel that the saying ‘Wudang’s arts do not focus on offense, yet they must never be lightly provoked’ is no empty boast.”
“Wudang’s martial arts are not aggressive, yet they cannot be easily challenged... indeed.”
It was something I had said during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, but no phrase suited the Wudang Sect better.
Their arts themselves were not offensive in nature, but they specialized in receiving and redirecting attacks.
...Though it took a long time to master.
One also needed to accumulate internal energy for many years before its true effectiveness became apparent. As a representative example of a “late bloomer” art, Wudang’s techniques usually only reached their peak once a practitioner entered middle age.
“It will soon be our turn, Benefactor.”
“They’re quite fast.”
Even though it looked like they were taking their time, the line was shrinking remarkably quickly.
From the way the gatekeepers handled matters so efficiently, perhaps this was the strength of a great sect.
While I was thinking this, our turn arrived.
The Daoists acting as gatekeepers gave us a quick once-over, then averted their eyes and cleared their throats. I did not need to ask why.
...Hyeryeong was simply too stimulating for Daoists living in these remote mountains.
“W-what brings you here?”
“I have come from the distant Western Regions to see the Wudang Sect, said to be the leader of the righteous factions.”
As I spoke, I lifted my bamboo hat slightly. The Daoist standing to the right spoke with a startled expression.
“The Lion Sword Hero...?”
“That is the title I am known by in the martial world.”
“Your reputation precedes you. You are widely praised throughout Hubei for capturing the Demonic Cult’s spies and defeating numerous demonic leaders.”
The Daoists’ gazes softened instantly.
This was why martial artists sought titles. A suitable reputation and epithet changed how people treated you entirely. If I had visited here as an unknown nobody...
I never would have received this kind of reception.
“I was invited by Scholarly Cloud Daoist. He promised to guide me through the Wudang Sect during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
“Ah, if it is Senior Brother Scholarly Cloud, he should be at the training hall right now. There is a young Daoist at the top who guides visitors. If you speak to him, you will be able to meet Senior Brother Scholarly Cloud.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. I hope you have a pleasant time.”
Thanks to the reputation I had built, we passed through the inspection with ease. The people watching us from behind sent envious glances our way, confirming that we were indeed receiving special treatment.
“Wow, Uncle, the stairs from the entrance to the main complex are enormous!”
“They’re using an entire mountain as their territory, so it’s only natural.”
“Climbing these stairs every day would probably count as training by itself.”
“It would be decent for building basic stamina.”
We chatted as we climbed. The stairs stretching from the entrance to the main grounds looked even longer than the ones we had already passed. As we continued upward, the scent of pine grew stronger.
Whether it came from the surrounding trees or the sect’s own aura spreading this far, I could not tell.
“Just thinking about climbing these stairs every single day... it’s terrifying. It must hurt so much!”
“...Your legs would probably ache.”
I glanced away from Hyeryeong and looked toward the forest.
She had not been talking about her legs. Bringing it up myself would have been awkward, and there was also Mokgyeong to consider. I did not want any unnecessary misunderstandings.
“Just thinking about going back down makes my head spin! We’re climbing endlessly, so going down would...”
“Still, going down is a bit easier.”
“But we can’t use lightness skills. There are too many people around...”
“Would it even be allowed to use lightness skills on the stairs in the first place?”
One wrong step and you would be rolling all the way down Wudang Mountain.
“Uh... maybe it’s fine? Hehe.”
“Don’t do anything dangerous.”
“I’m a first-class expert in my own right! I’m not a child!”
Hyeryeong puffed out her cheeks and protested. It was hard to take her seriously when she was acting exactly like a child while insisting she was not one. Of course, looking only at her body made calling her a child somewhat inaccurate, but her face still looked childish.
...By age alone, she was an adult, though.
“Fine, just don’t shout. You’ll startle the people around us. And... we’ve arrived, so we should straighten our clothes and mind our conduct.”
“Okaaaay...”
“...”
“Mokgyeong, is something wrong? Why did you suddenly go quiet?”
“...It is nothing. I simply felt as though someone was watching...”
Watching?
At Mokgyeong’s words, I looked around. A gaze in this pine-filled path, aside from ahead and behind.
Perhaps...
“Mokgyeong, which direction?”
“...Over there.”
I looked in the direction Mokgyeong pointed. To the right.
Once we secured a guest room inside the sect, I would have to head in that direction.
An unexpected signpost had appeared.
The author who drew the cover, D.Kefo, sent fanart!
It’s William using Aura Armor!