Chapter 571: To Henan (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 571: To Henan (5)
I pushed myself up and headed toward the main gate of the Wudang Sect.
As I approached, a few familiar faces spotted me and offered warm greetings.
“Ah, Young Master Gu!”
It was Yung Pung and Gu Ryunghwa. The Sword Queen was there as well, already holding some luggage.
“It seems you were waiting for me.”
“Yes.”
Immediately after the Tamer of Wild Dogs declared the interrogation over, the Sword Queen and the Sword of Wudang had apparently concluded their own discussions and settled their affairs.
Afterward, the Sword of Wudang had to attend to the chaos that had erupted within the sect. Since guests couldn't remain under such circumstances, we had to leave Wudang promptly.
My gaze shifted.
A short distance away, the Sword Queen was conversing with a group from Wudang. From the looks of it…
‘Are they elders?’
They seemed to be the elders sent out to represent the sect in the Sword of Wudang’s absence. I committed their faces to memory; they seemed like people I would eventually have to deal with.
Just then, Gu Ryunghwa, who was standing beside me, spoke up.
“Brother.”
“Hm?”
“…We’re going to be okay, right?”
It was almost funny how much anxiety was laced in her voice. She tried so hard to appear confident, but she was still just a kid. Sensing her unease, I reached out and roughly ruffled her hair.
“What are you so scared of? Just act normal.”
“...”
Usually, she would have yelped and pulled away, but she must have been truly shaken, as she just stood there quietly.
“Wudang said there was no problem. And your master must have told you it was fine, too.”
“…Yeah.”
“Then there won’t be any problems.”
There had better not be. If any problem did arise, I would burn the problem itself to ashes. I hated the sight of this fool crying.
“…So, Brother, where are you going now?”
“Me?”
At her question, I paused to think. Should I leave just like this? And if I did, where should I go?
‘My current schedule…’
Originally, I was supposed to return to the clan for a while. But having come this far, there was only one logical path.
“I’ll probably head to Henan.”
“Henan?”
Gu Ryunghwa’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Young Master Gu, does that mean…?” Yung Pung, having overheard, approached with gleaming eyes. “Are you planning to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament?”
The Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament, held in the summer. He was asking if my journey was for that. I smiled and gave a simple reply.
“Yes, well. It looked like it might be fun.”
“Ah!” Hearing my answer, Yung Pung’s face lit up with excitement. “Then I suppose we will see you in Henan.”
“Hm?” His words made me tilt my head. “Are you going as well, Master Woo?”
“Yes. I have already received permission from the Sect Leader.”
I thought that meant he would be traveling to Henan with us, but he continued.
“However, I must go to Shaanxi first.”
“Ah.”
I looked at the treasure in Yung Pung’s arms. Solar Light, the beloved weapon of the Divine Sword of Mount Hua, was cradled carefully in his grip. It seemed he had received it after concluding the discussions with Wudang.
‘Hmm.’
I briefly examined Solar Light before looking back at Yung Pung.
“Then I suppose I’ll see you later.”
Many words came to mind, but I forced myself to keep them swallowed. Was it just my imagination? A faint warmth seemed to brush against my left arm. I forced myself to ignore that as well.
I simply tightened my grip on the hand that was stroking Gu Ryunghwa’s head.
“You too. See you next time.”
“Already…?” Gu Ryunghwa sounded stunned, as if she hadn't expected the farewell to come so soon.
I replied in a flat, dumbfounded tone. “What, you want me to follow you all the way to Shaanxi?”
“B-but… It’s only been a few days…”
“Then are you going to follow me?”
“...”
“If not, just quietly follow your master.”
As I said that, Gu Ryunghwa suddenly grabbed the collar of my robes. I looked at her, wondering what was going on.
“…Then, this time… please actually accept my letters.”
“Ah…”
Gu Ryunghwa spoke with teary eyes. I gave a sheepish nod.
“I’ll try.”
I probably wouldn’t, but I had to give her a proper answer. As I was placating her, the Sword Queen approached us.
“It is time for us to leave.”
Her expression was sour.
‘Of course it is.’
She hadn’t exactly had a pleasant experience here, nor had she been treated with much respect, so her mood was only natural. I subtly shifted my gaze to the martial artists who had come with her. They were Taoists from Wudang. Looking at them, I could guess their purpose.
‘An escort detail?’
One might wonder why the Sword Queen would ever need an escort, but since they were carrying a treasure returned by Wudang, it was proper etiquette for the sect to provide a direct escort for a certain distance. They intended to have a few disciples join the return journey. They likely wouldn't go the whole way, turning back once a certain distance was reached, but the gesture alone established a justification.
Even if something happened, Wudang could claim they had done their best to ensure the treasure's safe return.
In other words…
‘It’s all just for show.’
That was likely another reason for the Sword Queen’s foul mood. Realizing this, I approached her.
“Well then, I will be on my way.”
When I casually announced my departure, the Sword Queen looked at me. “You’re leaving already?”
“Yes, I’m a bit busy.”
“We won’t be departing immediately… Why don’t you have a meal with us before you go?”
The Sword Queen’s offer was kind, but I had to refuse with a smile.
“Ryunghwa is already—”
“My apologies. I’m in a hurry, so I’ll eat with you next time.”
There was no hidden meaning. I was truly busy. I was simply running out of time. Perhaps because I spoke so firmly, the Sword Queen gave a bitter smile.
“I see… Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Her disappointment was palpable, but she seemed to be trying to understand. Gu Ryunghwa still clung to my collar, as if she had no intention of letting go.
“I will visit you next time.”
I gently pried the girl’s hand away and turned my back. Whether it was fortunate or not, no one called out to me. Or perhaps, I was trying my best not to hear them. I tried to walk with a light heart, to put it all behind me, but my feet felt unusually heavy.
* * *
Time passed after I left Wudang.
I was now walking through a damp cave. Faint light streamed in through the collapsed ceiling—moonlight.
Splash.
I continued walking, stepping through the water pooled on the ground. The walls were covered in moss, likely due to the humidity. When I touched the stone with my fingertips, I could feel the dampness. The unpleasant sensation made me click my tongue.
“Tsk, of all the places to pick.”
In terms of distance, this place was somewhere between Hubei and Henan—a short distance from Wudang. I had told them to pick a place with as little foot traffic as possible, and it seemed they had chosen a location where truly no one would ever venture.
Splash.
Ignoring the annoying sound, I kept walking. It was a cave that had been here for who knows how long. There were plenty of places like this, so it wasn't particularly special, but whenever I entered a cave like this, a useless memory would surface.
The memory of a day when it rained endlessly. The memory of carrying a bleeding woman on my back, running until my legs felt like they would tear apart. Recalling that time, I let out an involuntary sneer.
Should I say that coming this far from such a memory feels… refreshing?
The thought made me let out a dry laugh.
‘That sounds far too peaceful a way to describe it.’
I knew very well that wasn't the right word for a time like this.
“Excuse me.”
A voice came from behind me. When I turned my head, the first thing I saw was Seong Yul, standing there with his characteristically pale face. He hadn't said a word the entire time we were moving, but he was finally speaking up.
“What is it?”
“Why… have you come to this place?”
I smiled slightly. It seemed the situation looked quite strange even to him.
“To meet someone.”
“…Here?”
Seong Yul made a face. It was only natural; anyone could see this was no place for a meeting.
“Tell me about it.” I didn't want to meet in a place like this either, but it couldn't be helped. “I heard they’re all gathered here.”
The members were already assembled. With those words, I started walking again. I lightly clenched my fist.
Vwoom!
My internal energy stirred, circulated through my body once, and returned. I was checking my condition.
‘Tsk.’
Naturally, it wasn't good. A single day wasn't enough for my body to heal, but I still had to check because I needed to calculate the timeline.
‘Two months at most.’
I thought of the letter kept in my robes. The Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament, which the Alliance was holding to divert attention and solidify the Sword of Wudang’s position, while also selecting a new Heavenly Dragon Army. That meant there were at most two months until it began.
If that was the case…
‘I’m short by about a month.’
If it was estimated to take three months for my body to fully heal, I was running behind.
‘…I should be able to recover to some extent in two months.’
But that wasn't enough. This was the most crucial juncture. This was the true ‘beginning’ of the plan. I had to create the most optimal situation possible.
‘Tsk. If only I had controlled myself a little better.’
Things had gotten twisted because I squeezed in the trip to Wudang. Originally, the plan to visit Wudang wasn't for now; it was supposed to be this winter at the earliest.
‘It overlapped with Elder Shin’s business. I tried to take care of both at once, and things got tangled.’
If Yung Pung hadn't suddenly appeared and told me he had become the successor of the Divine Sword of Mount Hua, I wouldn't have hastily changed course for Wudang. Then I wouldn't have suffered these internal injuries.
‘Can’t be helped.’
This was something I had to see for myself, one way or another. That's why I had pushed myself to alter the plan. Fortunately, there were gains.
‘First, Yung Pung’s energy and the Solar Light that Wudang possessed are real.’
I didn't know the history of why they were storing Solar Light there, but the one they had was genuine. Which meant…
‘What is this thing?’
What was this thing tied to my left arm? If that one was real, then this one had to be a fake. But for this to be a fake, there was no way Elder Shin wouldn't have known. Another possibility was…
‘There were two of them from the start.’
There was a chance that there had always been two Solar Lights. Considering Elder Shin never said there was only one, that possibility was high enough.
However, something was strange. Even so, there were too many inconsistencies.
‘Yung Pung said he heard a voice.’
Yung Pung had clearly stated that he heard the voice of Elder Shin’s lingering thoughts.
‘Elder Shin left behind his thoughts, huh?’
Back then, the old man’s thoughts had been stored in my body. Moreover, Elder Shin himself didn't even know why his thoughts had been dormant. In such a situation, he left behind thoughts to warn of danger?
‘The story doesn’t add up.’
Something was definitely distorted. The existence of two Solar Lights. The thoughts that Yung Pung saw. Even the energy that Yung Pung currently possessed. Something was clearly wrong.
‘I should have looked into it more back then.’
Perhaps I shouldn't have sent Yung Pung back to Mount Hua so quickly. I should have held onto him a little longer to investigate. But there was a reason I sent him away, despite my suspicions.
‘He said we’d see each other again in Henan anyway.’
Furthermore, Yung Pung’s reaction to me was unsettling. His reaction when the Solar Light from Wudang lunged at me, and…
‘The subtle energy contained within it.’
The faint, foul sensation I felt from Yung Pung. It was a familiar and goddamn awful feeling. Normally, I would have kept him by my side to check him over, but…
‘It’s uncomfortable to be near him right now.’
Somehow, my instincts were warning me that I shouldn't be near Yung Pung at the moment. Since he said he would be at the tournament, I would see him in Henan soon enough. Given my own tight schedule, it was a necessary decision.
‘Anyway… this would all be resolved if Elder Shin were here.’
Things would have been so much simpler if that foul-tempered old man were here. It was just a shame that wasn't possible.
‘Who can I blame?’
There was nothing I could say, knowing the truth. The reason the old man who used to chatter away inside me was gone was none other than myself.
Yes, the old man is gone. Right now, Elder Shin…
‘Is probably in another world.’
Elder Shin, who had remained as a lingering thought, had likely moved on to a different world. That was our pact.
Thud.
After walking for a long time while organizing my thoughts, I found myself blocked by a wall. It looked like a dead end, but I didn't stop. I reached my hand out toward the wall without hesitation.
And then.
Vwoooo!
As if it were a lie, my hand passed through the stone. The wall was an illusion. Seeing it, I couldn't help but smirk.
“They’ve been quite thorough, haven’t they?”
A formation. It couldn't have been more than a few days since they arrived, yet they had already set up a formation of this level at the entrance. I had told them they didn't need to go this far, but they never listened.
I immediately stepped forward.
Woong!
My body passed through the wall. The situation inside wasn't much different from the outside, save for one noticeable difference.
It was deathly quiet.
The sound of the wind, the sound of water droplets falling down the walls—everything vanished. It was a chilling silence where not a single sound could be heard.
I looked around. The crumbling ceiling and the moonlight pouring through the cracks were impressive. The moss I had seen at the entrance was even more widespread here. Rocks jutted out here and there, surrounding the area.
And on top of them, I felt ten pairs of eyes silently watching me.
Three pairs were ordinary pupils. The remaining eyes were all dyed violet, shining brilliantly in the dark.
Seeing them, I opened my mouth.
“Let’s skip the tedious greetings.”
I’ll omit the useless talk.
“Let’s get straight to the point.”
At my words, the air inside the cave stirred. It felt like killing intent, but also like fighting spirit. A coarse energy gathered and converged in the air.
“Three months from now.”
I spoke as I watched them. My tone was nonchalant, my voice drenched in annoyance. But the words that came out were anything but light.
“We will attack Henan.”