Chapter 49: Moon Elder (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 49: Moon Elder (1)
With Paewoong, the former hegemon of Bongnim Valley, dead, the outcome was exactly as expected.
Those who couldn't use their internal energy surrendered immediately.
By killing the leader, everything else was resolved with ease.
I had made some noise about reigning as the new king, but since I had no intention of actually living among them, I established my base in the cave with the pond.
The others were thrilled.
It seemed they were terrified that I might actually try to stay with them.
Among them were those who had hated Paewoong, and they were now overtly friendly toward me.
I snorted at the Lesser Conversation Sword’s remark.
As if loyalty could exist in a place like this.
The people trapped here were more sensitive to even the smallest gains than those in the outside world. As long as they weren't personally harmed, the death of their leader was neither a cause for sorrow nor a debt to be repaid.
They were exactly the type of people who would do that if I showed even the slightest opening.
That was why I had come to the pond.
At the very least, the Human-Faced Snake was better than people whose hearts could change at any moment.
“Should I move these over here?”
“Yes. Leave them there.”
Men were busy moving back and forth, carrying bundles of tree roots into the cave.
Of course, that wasn't all.
Having lived in these caves for a long time, they had fashioned all sorts of things. There were floor mats woven from tree roots and several other items that would make life more convenient.
In fact, I had taken everything Paewoong owned.
I didn't exactly relish the idea of sharing his belongings, but it was better than curling up on the bare ground for a month.
Before long, the area around the pond had been transformed into a decent room.
I was now prepared to live like a human being for the next month.
A man named Gapchan bowed his head deeply to me.
“If you have any orders, please come find me at the Root Cave at any time.”
“Understood.”
I wasn't sure if I’d have any orders to give.
Since I planned to endure here for just a month before leaving, I didn't think I’d have much reason to cross paths with them again.
I intended to use this time in the cave to train my external martial arts and find a way to hone my Mental Focus.
That would make the time pass quickly.
It’s a shame.
I couldn't use internal energy, but if I could have used my Innate True Qi, I could have used Heaven’s Net to recall the Blood Demon’s martial arts and practiced mindscape training.
The one the Lesser Conversation Sword was referring to was Gapchan, who was currently walking out of the cave.
I had made him my proxy.
At first, he had made a huge fuss, claiming he couldn't do it, but when I declared that I would hold the others responsible if he died, he pretended to accept it reluctantly.
In truth, he probably loved the position.
Well, I’m sure he’ll manage.
I needed someone to manage the tree roots anyway.
Initially, I thought Paewoong’s existence as a leader was entirely unnecessary, but according to the prisoners, his presence had actually prevented the reckless consumption of the roots.
If humans consumed them faster than they grew, the supply would quickly be exhausted. Since Paewoong took control, he had been able to regulate their use.
So, I instructed Gapchan to continue that role but warned him not to charge the people of Bongnim Valley ridiculous prices.
Wasn't it cruel to be so stingy when everyone was just trying to survive?
That wasn't my concern.
For now, they just needed to stay out of my hair. As long as they behaved while I was here, whatever happened after I vanished wasn't my responsibility.
Five days passed like that.
“Whew… whew…”
I was doing push-ups while standing on my hands.
It had been a long time since I’d trained my physical body without relying on internal energy or Innate True Qi—not since I was hung upside down on that mountain.
A sound like a beast’s growl echoed from the front of the pond.
To an untrained ear, it might sound threatening, but would you believe it was actually a sound like a cat’s purr?
It was the sound the Human-Faced Snake made while coiled up.
It was asking for attention.
“Wait, Jaso.”
Jaso was the name I had given the Human-Faced Snake.
I created it by combining the word for purple (Ja) with my own surname (So).
The creature seemed to like it, as it perked up every time I called its name.
Just get used to it.
The creature pestered me, making its unique sound.
Lately, it had developed a taste for a game where I threw roasted fish for it to catch.
“Just a little longer.”
My training wasn't over yet.
I had to do about a hundred more in this position.
Beads of sweat soaked my entire body and dripped onto the cave floor.
I wonder how Lady Sama is doing.
Now that my basic needs were met, I found myself wondering if Sama Yeong was holding up well. Given her personality, it wouldn't have been surprising if she’d jumped in after me behind her father’s back, but Sama Chak must have been keeping a close eye on her, as nothing of the sort had happened.
Should I consider that a relief?
How could I not be?
I was worried not only about Sama Yeong but also about my younger sister, So Yeong-yeong, and the Blood Cult.
My sister was with the Hengshan Sect, so I wasn't too anxious about her, but the Blood Cult must be in quite a state of confusion now that I, their leader, had vanished.
Baek Hye-hyang?
Well, it probably hasn't come to that yet.
My master, Haeakcheon, is there, along with the other Venerable One, Raging Demon Lord Seo Gal-ma, and the three Blood Stars. Would they really be taken down so easily?
However, the longer my absence lasted, the higher the probability they would choose a "substitute" to fill the void.
The two of them were bickering again.
As the Blood Demon Sword said, if I continued to stay missing, they would eventually have no choice but to use the original leader, Baek Ryeonha, as a replacement.
After all, she was the successor with true legitimacy.
Huh?
I wouldn't have believed it before, but now it seemed plausible.
I didn't know how I’d ended up tied to the Blood Cult with such a persistent fate.
I chuckled at the Namcheon Iron Sword’s sentimental voice.
It’s no easy thing for an ill-fated relationship to become a strong bond.
Even after regressing, destiny remained difficult to discern.
As I was lost in thought while doing push-ups, I heard the sound of someone approaching from outside the cave.
“Young Master So, are you there?”
It was a familiar voice.
I flipped from my handstand to a standing position and shouted back.
“I’m here.”
Where else would I be?
“Young Master So. Could you please come outside for a moment?”
At the pleading tone, I gave a bitter smile and lowered my body.
The man calling me "Young Master So" from outside was deathly afraid of Jaso, the Human-Faced Snake.
Because of that, he couldn't bring himself to take a single step into the cave.
I saw the face of a bearded man outside the cave opening.
Just as the swords said, I had formed a connection with this man two days ago.
Even in a place like this, rumors traveled.
As word spread that I had killed Paewoong and become the master of this cave, several people had come to find me.
As the Lesser Conversation Sword said, some of them had expressed a desire to serve under me, but I simply turned them down.
Why would I take on subordinates when I wasn't planning to stay long?
For swords, they certainly had weak stomachs.
As the Blood Demon Sword mentioned, some people had tried to barter for fish, bringing skewers loaded with dead rats or insects.
I had no desire for such things, so I just gave them the fish for free.
I have plenty of fish, anyway.
I looked toward the cave wall, where more than ten fish were hanging, being smoked over a fire.
I had been worried about the fish supply, but after Jaso dove into the hole in the pond and came back out, the pond was replenished with a massive number of fish, as if the snake had herded them in.
Thanks to that, I didn't have to worry about the population dwindling.
I shouted toward the cave entrance.
“Do you need fish?”
The bearded man was one of the people who had requested fish before.
However, unlike the others who wanted food for themselves, this man came on behalf of someone called Moon Elder.
Moon Elder was the leader of another faction in Bongnim Valley.
The bearded man had come because his leader’s illness had worsened and he was dying; his final wish was to taste fish before he passed away.
So, I had provided him with a generous amount.
“I happen to be smoking some fish right now. Should I pack about five for you?”
I could afford to be generous with this much.
“I would be grateful for that, but that’s not why I’m here.”
“Pardon?”
That wasn't it?
The bearded man spoke to me in a pained voice.
“Moon Elder requested to see his benefactor’s face and offer his thanks before he passes.”
“Ah…”
It seemed Moon Elder’s death was imminent.
When I arrived at the cave where they were staying, I couldn't help but frown.
There lay an old man, looking as if he were already dead. He had long, disheveled white hair, white eyebrows that hung low enough to cover his eyes, and a thick beard.
He appeared to be Moon Elder, their leader.
What surprised me wasn't the dying man himself, but the three men standing guard by his side.
Every one of them was severely injured.
One was missing an arm, and another had a long scar across his face that looked like it had been made by a beast’s claws.
Didn't they say he had eight subordinates?
The others were nowhere to be seen.
Even including the bearded man, only half of them remained.
Since they might have just been away, it was difficult to ask.
“Haah… haah…”
Just then, the old man known as Moon Elder struggled to sit up.
“Elder!”
The men by his side tried to stop him, but it was no use.
I also stepped forward to intervene.
“Elder, please stay lying down.”
At my words, the old man known as Moon Elder gave a faint smile on his pale face.
“Cough, cough. How can I… receive my benefactor while lying down?”
I was inwardly surprised.
I wondered if these were truly the eyes of a dying man.
Though his eyes were half-hidden by his long white eyebrows, his gaze was remarkably straight and clear.
Moon Elder clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute and bowed his head to me.
Ah…
To maintain such dignity even after being trapped in a place like this for over twenty years.
He was someone worthy of respect.
Moon Elder spoke to me.
“Thanks to the grace you bestowed, this old man was able to feast before leaving this world. Thank you for allowing me to depart in good spirits. Cough.”
Blood trickled from the corner of Moon Elder’s mouth.
Seeing that the blood was dark, his end truly seemed near.
I returned the salute and replied.
“Why do you say such things? They say all within the four seas are brothers; if there is something I can do to help, I should.”
A smile touched Moon Elder’s lips at my words.
He chuckled and said, “Hahaha. It truly gladdens me to see such a fine young man before I depart. Yet, it is also a pity.”
“What do you mean?”
“Young men like you should have much to do in the world outside. It is truly a pity that you are trapped in a place like this. As for this old man, my days are numbered anyway… cough, cough, cough.”
Before he could finish, Moon Elder broke into a violent fit of coughing.
Blood continued to mix with his coughs; he looked to be in critical condition.
“Elder!”
“You must lie down.”
Eventually, Moon Elder yielded to the urgings of those around him and lay back down.
Perhaps because he was facing death, he seemed transcendent, detached from everything.
In that moment, he looked like a saint, and I felt a deep sense of respect for him.
“……”
I stepped closer to him and spoke.
“Elder. If you have family or anyone else outside, is there a message you would like to leave for them?”
Moon Elder gave a bitter smile.
“What meaning is there, when I cannot leave?”
“One never knows. Who’s to say that I, or those by your side, won't manage to leave by some stroke of heavenly luck?”
I couldn't bring myself to tell him that I would be leaving in a month.
Doing so might cause rumors to spread and lead to a difficult situation.
I simply wanted to deliver the final words of this man, for whom I had developed a genuine fondness.
“Please, tell me.”
At my words, Moon Elder took a deep breath.
His eyes grew red.
It seemed he was thinking of his family or kin.
“Hahaha. A dying man showing such a pathetic side. It has been a long time since I’ve met a young man like you.”
“Please don't say that, and just tell me your story.”
Moon Elder shook his head.
“It’s alright. I am grateful for the sentiment alone.”
“……Elder.”
“My family and kin are all dead. I managed to help my only daughter escape, but her life and death are uncertain. In the first place, there’s no way she could have escaped their clutches.”
It seemed Moon Elder had circumstances he couldn't easily speak of.
Still, I spoke up, hoping to ease his burden before he passed.
“You never know. If I manage to leave this place and happen to meet your daughter, I will be sure to deliver your message.”
At my words, Moon Elder’s face crumpled.
Tears began to flow uncontrollably.
Though he hadn't shown it, that one remaining daughter must have been his greatest regret.
Weeping, Moon Elder coughed and spoke.
“Cough, cough. Thank you. Thank you. Since you say that, I find myself wanting to speak the words I intended to take to my grave.”
“Please, speak freely.”
Moon Elder stared at me intently, then nodded slightly with a tear-streaked face.
“Tell her this… Haryeong. I am sorry that you had to suffer such harsh trials because of your worthless father and ancestors. If you are still alive, even if I die, I will become a vengeful spirit to protect you…”
I winced.
“Young man, what is it?”
He asked because of the look on my face.
I was shocked by the name Moon Elder had just uttered.
“……Did you say her name is Haryeong?”
“That is correct.”
Was it a coincidence?
Haryeong was the same as our mother’s name.
While it wasn't impossible for people to share the same name among the countless people of the Central Plains, the words Moon Elder had spoken earlier flashed through my mind the moment he said "Haryeong."
[I managed to help my only daughter escape, but her life and death are uncertain.]
Suddenly, my mind was in a whirl.
“What is the matter?”
Moon Elder’s expression hardened as he looked at me with suspicion.
He seemed to sense something strange from my reaction.
Just as Moon Elder’s gaze was turning wary, the voice of the Namcheon Iron Sword echoed in my head.
……Wait. Not now…
What?
As I wondered in confusion, the Namcheon Iron Sword told me something shocking.
!!!
What did you just say?
I was reeling from the shock when Moon Elder spoke to me in a suspicious tone.
It was as if he suspected I might be his enemy.
“Who are you? Do you happen to know my daughter?”
At Moon Elder’s changed attitude, the men guarding him also grew wary.
In that moment, I reached into my robe and pulled out a jade token.
I held it out before Moon Elder.
The moment he saw it, his eyes widened as if they were about to burst.