The Man the Nanobots Cannot Touch
Upon returning to Bamboo Forest Manor, Ouyang Qiangang laid out everything that had happened at the Hailong Tavern before Heo Il-bi.
“The Phoenix Sword Gate… So they were seeking the Life-and-Death Divine Doctor……” Heo Il-bi continued with a hardened expression. “Gang, it's no small matter that they're looking for you.”
Ouyang Qiangang asked, “Uncle, what kind of place is the Phoenix Sword Gate, that you would say such a thing?”
“They are one of the so-called Ten Pillars of the Azure Heavens — the ten pillars that prop up the Azure Sky Martial Alliance, the most powerful of all the great powers under heaven.”
It was a name Ouyang Qiangang, who knew little of the martial world, had never heard before. He asked, “How does it compare to Bamboo Forest Manor?”
“Hehehe. If they are the sun, then Bamboo Forest Manor is a firefly.”
“Hmm. A big power indeed.”
“It's no wonder you can't quite grasp it — you still lack experience in the martial world.”
Heo Il-bi's words were no exaggeration. Though the Phoenix Sword Gate boasted centuries of history, it was a mysterious sect whose true nature remained obscure because its disciples never engaged in the martial world.
The first time they had ever revealed themselves was during the Righteous-Demonic War some forty years ago. They earned glorious merit in defeating the Demonic Cult, and after the war ended, at the earnest pleading of the Azure Sky Martial Alliance Leader, they did not return to seclusion but remained within the Alliance.
The swordsmanship of the Phoenix Sword Gate was said to be so formidable that it was counted among the Five Great Sword Sects of the world, alongside Wudang, Mount Hua, the Namgung Clan, and the Azure Lotus of Bodhi Hermitage.
Heo Il-bi continued in a worried tone. “It was wise of you not to clash with them at the tavern to the point of earning their enmity. I know your abilities are extraordinary, but you are not yet strong enough to stand unrivaled in the martial world. You must be extremely cautious in your movements from here on.”
“I will keep that in mind. By the way, their leader was a woman named Liu Qingyu. Have you ever heard of her?”
“I have not. Why do you ask?”
“Judging by how the three men treated her, she seemed to hold a high standing even within the Phoenix Sword Gate.”
“There's a saying in the martial world: beware the old, the young, and women. Be careful.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
That night, Ouyang Qiangang met Heo Cho-ryeong alone at the pavilion in the rear garden.
“Sister, I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Please take care of Geum Wang. I don't think I can keep him with me for a while.”
At his sudden words, Heo Cho-ryeong's eyes widened. “Geum Wang? Is something the matter?”
“There are people targeting me. But Geum Wang's golden fur is far too conspicuous. I could change the color of his fur, but if we travel together, they'll figure out my identity even when I wear the human-skin mask.”
Heo Cho-ryeong's gaze grew complicated. Her heart was torn between the sorrow of sending him alone into a dangerous martial world and the overwhelming feeling of being entrusted with such a precious companion.
“If that's the reason, then I'll gladly take him.”
“Thank you, Sister.”
Ouyang Qiangang looked at Geum Wang nestled in Heo Cho-ryeong's arms. “Geum Wang, I want to keep traveling with you, but for now, this is the safest place for you.”
A bitter smile crossed his lips — because he saw that Geum Wang's face, far from mourning his words, looked almost delighted by them.
Heo Cho-ryeong hugged Geum Wang tightly and said, “Don't worry, Gang. I'll take good care of Geum Wang, so go without a care in the world.”
A smile spread across her eyes as she spoke. As long as Geum Wang is here, no matter how far Gang goes, he'll have no choice but to come back here for him. So Geum Wang is the most precious thread of fate binding Gang and me together.
Geum Wang, nestled in her arms, wore an expression of utter contentment as he fanned vigorously at Ouyang Qiangang with his little hands, as if shooing him away.
Ouyang Qiangang glared at the rascal once out of wounded pride, then couldn't help but chuckle. “Geum Wang, no troublemaking until I return. Behave yourself. Understood?”
Snort!
Geum Wang scoffed at him.
The next day, Ouyang Qiangang left Bamboo Forest Manor alone. From within the arms of Heo Cho-ryeong, who had come to see him off, Geum Wang finally let out a faint, mournful sound, as if only now feeling the loss.
Kki-ek……
Once he had entered a sparsely traveled alley, Ouyang Qiangang donned the human-skin mask and pressed a tasseled bamboo hat low over his head. With that alone, he was perfectly transformed from the exquisitely handsome young master into an ordinary-looking man in his twenties wandering the martial world.
Sangguan must be hurrying through all the preparations based on the business proposal I gave her. I need to join her as quickly as possible and launch the new enterprise that will strangle Dong Hyeon-do's throat. Only then can I buy the Ouyang Clan the time to lay the foundation of its restoration.
He called for Akasha. “Akasha, find me the fastest route to the Imperial Capital.”
> Doctor, shortest-route analysis complete.
In less than three seconds, Akasha's voice rang through his mind, and a translucent holographic map unfolded across his vision.
> The fastest and most comfortable route to the Imperial Capital is by boat — via Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River to Nanjing in Jiangxi Province, then north along the Grand Canal. Traveling by land instead would take nine additional days. Which route do you choose?
Ouyang Qiangang studied the map and answered calmly. “Is there a route that saves time?”
> Combining water and land travel. Take the waterway to Nanjing, then proceed by land. If you employ lightness arts overland, you can reach the Imperial Capital in as few as seventeen days.
“Good. We'll combine water and land routes.”
> Understood. I will establish a travel plan optimized for the route.
The distance from Nanchang to the Imperial Capital exceeded three thousand li. For an ordinary person, even hurrying, it was a distant journey of a month and a half at the very least. But Ouyang Qiangang planned to cut that down to fifteen days.
It would be a forced march — minimizing sleep, unleashing his movement arts without rest, replenishing his energy with Yang Dragon Pills when exhausted, and recovering his stamina through breath-guided meditation. It was a mad schedule that even seasoned martial artists would not dare attempt.
The Nanchang docks in the early morning were like an ink-wash painting come to life. Thick mist erased the boundary between river and sky like a gray curtain, swallowing every sound and color of the world. The masts of ships faintly emerging beyond the fog seemed as distant as a scene from a dream.
Wearing the human-skin mask with the bamboo hat pressed low, Ouyang Qiangang was moving among the crowds in search of a boat bound for Nanjing.
It was about half a shijin later when a low, gentle voice came from behind him.
“Hey, young friend. Are you headed to Nanjing? As it happens, there's one spot left on a merchant ship I know. Care to join me?”
Where Ouyang Qiangang turned stood a strikingly handsome man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, wreathed in the faint mist. A worn headband and ragged hemp robes — his appearance was shabby, yet the aura flowing from his whole body carried a mysterious, otherworldly grace, as if he were no man of this world at all.
Above all, his eyes were an unfathomable abyss itself — holding everything and yet utterly empty.
> Doctor… something is wrong.
An unprecedented tension laced Akasha's voice. “What is it?”
> I cannot detect that man's energy signature at all. Like a ghost that doesn't exist, he doesn't register on the nanobot sensors.
It was the first time since awakening in this world that Akasha had ever said such a thing, and Ouyang Qiangang was inwardly quite startled. But the man he was now was no longer so naive as to let his emotions show on the surface.
Hiding his surprise, he spoke with polite courtesy. “Thank you for the offer. My name is Hahu Gang. May I ask yours?”
Cheon Un-gi answered with a bright grin. “Oh! So you're young master Hahu. I'm called Cheon Un-gi — just an idle wanderer drifting through the martial world.”
Ouyang Qiangang's brow narrowed ever so slightly without his meaning to. The man was clearly smiling right in front of him, yet his senses caught nothing at all. He felt as if he were gazing down into a deep lake with no visible bottom — a vertiginous emptiness.
He's no ordinary man……
> I'll infiltrate nanobots to investigate. Deploying three nanobot units——
> Doctor, the nanobots are being decomposed at the surface of his skin by an energy barrier of unknown origin. This is not a martial-arts shield like protective qi. It is closer to an annihilation field that erases existence itself. No such phenomenon exists in my database. He… he is defying the physical laws as I know them.
Ouyang Qiangang felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine. The nanobots were decomposed? A being exists in this world whom Akasha's technology cannot touch?
Until now, all of his plans had depended heavily on Akasha's abilities. If her powers could be nullified, his fundamental approach to this world would inevitably have to change.
“What's the matter, young friend?” Cheon Un-gi asked, wearing a bright smile as if something delighted him endlessly.
“Nothing at all. Something just came to mind suddenly……”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Brother Cheon, why do you propose to travel with me?”
“There's a seat left on the ship, and with a companion like you, young master Hahu, I doubt I'll be bored. The ship departs soon — what will you do?”
“Then I won't refuse.”
“Hehehe. Well decided.”
Cheon Un-gi chuckled low and started toward the merchant ship. Ouyang Qiangang followed him as if in a trance.
The Azure Dragon, bound for Nanjing in Jiangxi Province, was a merchant ship of considerable size. Aboard its deck, merchants and travelers from every corner of the land had boarded, each carrying their own story.
Time passed after departure, and before long dusk arrived, staining the sky red. Ouyang Qiangang, leaning against the deck railing and facing the river wind, turned to look at Cheon Un-gi, who had sauntered up beside him.
Cheon Un-gi, gazing out over the sunset-lit waters of Poyang Lake, suddenly spoke. “The more I look at you, young master Hahu, the more curious and fascinating you become.”
Ouyang Qiangang narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“It feels as though two souls are living and breathing within a single body.”
Inwardly, Ouyang Qiangang was shocked to the point of utter alarm. Cheon Un-gi seemed to know something. That couldn't be possible……
He replied in a level tone. “A man who says such things is the more fascinating one, Brother Cheon.”
“Hahahaha! Well, I've always been an amusing fellow.”
Laughing heartily, Cheon Un-gi continued. “Let it go in one ear and out the other. It's just the feeling I get. Besides, the martial world is full of strange things, isn't it? Travel long enough, and meeting an odd one like you is hardly unheard of.”
Cheon Un-gi's eyes deepened as he spoke. Ouyang Qiangang changed the subject.
“Where are you headed, Brother Cheon? Nanjing doesn't seem to be your final destination.”
“Hmm… wherever the wind blows, wherever my feet take me… What use would an idle wanderer like me have for a final destination?”
The Azure Dragon's voyage continued peacefully, and time flew by like an arrow. Over the following days, aside from the sails of the Yangtze Waterway Alliance collecting passage tolls, nothing of note occurred.
It was the day before they were to reach the port of Nanjing. Cheon Un-gi, bottle in hand, led Ouyang Qiangang up to the deck.
“The eve of our parting — to skip a drink would be a discourtesy to our bond, wouldn't you say?”
Ouyang Qiangang, who had grown quite close to him over the journey, replied jokingly. “Were we ever courting?”
“What a dreadful thing to say! My taste in loving women is firmly immovable. Hahahaha!”
Laughing heartily, Cheon Un-gi took a swig from the bottle and passed it over.
Glug— glug—
Ouyang Qiangang took the bottle without hesitation and likewise downed a couple of swigs.
Cheon Un-gi asked abruptly, “Young master Hahu — have you ever heard of a place called Gold Pagoda Mountain Manor?”