Different Minds, Different Paths
Seong Yueun was a coward. It was simply her nature. Whenever she went out to gather herbs, even the rustling of a wild rabbit would make her jump out of her skin.
"You should stay inside the medical hall for the rest of your life. You have no talent as a martial artist."
Her master used to scold her whenever he saw her like that.
Yet, Seong Yueun did not want to do that. Of course, caring for patients, compounding medicines, and preparing herbs was rewarding work. But it didn't make her heart race. It was a routine she had known since she was a child. Yueun wanted to bring a change to her life.
A journey through the Jianghu. And the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. Just hearing those names made her heart flutter. When her invitation arrived, Yueun was so excited she couldn't sleep for three days. A thrilling adventure alongside a handsome, highly skilled, and kind-hearted young master. Performing righteous deeds and receiving praise. And perhaps, a budding romance blossoming along the way. She had expected something straight out of a heroic tale.
This isn't the kind of journey I wanted.
Stealing a glance, she slightly raised her bowed head to scan her surroundings. Just as an experienced physician could diagnose an illness with a single glance, Yueun was quite adept at reading the atmosphere. Fear, confusion, bewilderment, admiration, jealousy, and more. The people around her were staring at a single girl with a complex mix of emotions.
The girl walked at the very front. Her slender, snow-white neck, elegant as a deer's, was just as striking as the blue hairpin gracing her hair.
Yoo Jeong?
Although Yueun had never left Shaanxi and Hyemyeongdang before, she was well-versed in the rumors of the Jianghu. Martial artists from Mount Hua and Mount Jongnam frequently visited Hyemyeongdang, and there were many patients from the Murim. She had gathered plenty of information by eagerly eavesdropping on their conversations. Yet, she had never heard the name Yoo Jeong before.
For someone so strong...
Seong Yueun was a coward and lacked a talent for fighting, but she did not lack talent in martial arts. She was a first-class expert despite being a physician, which was the very reason she had received an invitation. But that girl, Yoo Jeong...
I can't tell.
It was a very simple technique of releasing internal energy to exert pressure. Yet, men who were undoubtedly stronger than Yueun couldn't even budge under it. What was more, she had even controlled the concentration of her energy to target a single person with intense pressure.
A Super-Peak expert? No way.
The thought crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. Judging by her appearance, she couldn't be older than thirty at the absolute most.
A master of the Divine Realm at that age? She's not the protagonist of some heroic epic.
The others stealing glances at the girl were likely harboring similar doubts. Because everyone was lost in their own thoughts and warily sizing each other up, no one spoke a word until they had completely left Wuhan.
My Dragon-Phoenix Gathering can't end in such a gloomy atmosphere.
Just as she was about to muster the courage to say something, anything—
"Lady Hero."
Someone else spoke up first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Yoo Jeong was not thinking about anything in particular. To be precise, he wasn't thinking about the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. He hadn't joined out of interest in the first place.
"I will grant you access to the Hidden Dragon Martial Library, so please look after the young dragons and phoenixes."
The Path of Righteousness. The young talents gathered from all over are brought to the Alliance, then split up and dispatched again for righteous deeds. Those participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering are mostly geniuses and experts ranging from first-class to peak level. However, the Murim is a place where one cannot foresee even an inch ahead, and anything can happen. As a minimal safety measure, the Alliance assigned an experienced master to each group. They would protect and manage the participants on the Path of Righteousness, offering guidance as seniors to their juniors. It was essentially an instructor role.
"Lately, the righteous energy of the Murim has grown turbid, and the political climate is grim. We are short-handed."
Yoo Jeong had taken charge of them because Grandmaster Goeng-ryo had personally requested it.
And I don't even have much experience in the Murim.
Yet, the reason the monk had asked him was obvious. Because he was strong. Yoo Jeong's strength far outweighed any disadvantage of his lack of experience.
It should be enough for me to just watch from behind and protect them.
Having decided on a hands-off approach, he simply walked, paying little attention to the group members assigned to him. Instead, his mind was filled with various thoughts: pondering sword forms, feeling grateful to the members of the Phoenix Squad, and worrying about Namgung Sua, who had promised to come but had sent no word.
"Lady Hero."
The title called out from behind snapped him out of his thoughts.
Yoo Jeong stopped walking a couple of beats late after hearing the word "Lady Hero." Young lady, Lady Hero, maiden, woman. Having heard them quite often by now, Yoo Jeong was somewhat accustomed to these titles. However, whenever he was lost in thought like this, he would realize a moment too late that they were referring to him.
"Yes?"
When he turned around, seven pairs of eyes were fixed on him. The man who had raised his hand spoke as soon as his eyes met Yoo Jeong's.
"Where are we headed? Judging by this direction... it seems to be Henan. Are we perhaps going to the Central Peak?"
The man asked confidently. The Central Peak of the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains. Otherwise known as Mount Song. Though famous since ancient times for its beautiful scenery and historical lore, it held a different meaning in the Murim. The Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the martial world, Shaolin of the Northern Song! It was because Mount Song was home to the Shaolin Temple, the spiritual pillar of the orthodox Murim. Perhaps that was why interest and anticipation flickered in the eyes of the other six at the man's words.
However, Yoo Jeong immediately threw cold water on their expectations.
"It is similar, but a different place. We are going to Mount Tianzhong."
Mount Tianzhong, whose name and location were similar to the Central Peak, which was said to be the center of the world. However, unlike Mount Song, it received little attention in the Murim. It was only natural that those who had been anticipating Shaolin were disappointed.
"I see. Thank you for answering, Lady Hero."
"Don't mention it."
"But..."
"Is there something else?"
"Yes. Would it be alright if we introduced ourselves to one another? The atmosphere is a bit too stiff."
As the man shrugged and spoke, a few others nodded slightly. They seemed to share the same sentiment. Yoo Jeong, however, could not understand them.
"Go ahead."
"Pardon?"
"Do not mind me. You are the main characters of this event."
Tap, tap.
As he had when they first met, his slender fingers tapped against Cheonru as if playing an instrument.
"My job is simply to protect you. Drinking, enjoying the scenery, and performing righteous deeds—that is all up to you."
"...I see."
"Wait, so you—I mean, you won't interfere in our affairs at all?"
At Yoo Jeong's words, another man suddenly stepped forward. It was the man who had previously gotten into a dispute with Byeok Sogun in front of the Yellow Crane Pavilion. Seeing his face, Yoo Jeong recalled his name from memory.
"Hwangbo Mujin?"
"Yes. I am Hwangbo Mujin."
His lips twitched, seemingly quite pleased that Yoo Jeong remembered him.
"So that's how it is, then."
Crack.
Hwangbo Mujin cracked his knuckles as he glared at Byeok Sogun. However, Yoo Jeong stepped between them, blocking his view.
"No fighting unless it is a friendly sparring match."
"Ha. You're shielding that Kunlun Slave bastard way too much."
"I am simply doing my job."
Yoo Jeong responded to his harsh words with a snort. Turning around, he swept his gaze over the rest of the group.
"Do I need to call on you one by one?"
At his quiet prompt, the young talents exchanged glances. The first to speak was Hwangbo Mujin, who had just been talking to Yoo Jeong.
"As you've heard, I am Hwangbo Mujin of the Hwangbo Clan from Shandong."
Perhaps still disgruntled by Yoo Jeong's intervention, his gaze remained fixed on Byeok Sogun.
"I am Cheong-gae of the Beggars' Sect."
The man who had first suggested introducing themselves spoke up. At his words, Yoo Jeong's eyes widened slightly.
The Beggars' Sect?
Yoo Jeong recalled an old man. Since leaving Muo Valley, quite some time had passed, yet the number of people he had formed bonds with could still be counted on one hand. Among them, Goegelgae was one of those who had left the deepest impression. Not just Yoo Jeong, but even a merchant whose job was to meet people would have no choice but to have Goegelgae engraved in their memory.
It was only natural. The nose-stinging stench. The scattering dandruff and the streaks of grime running down his skin. The non-stop cursing and the raspy, stubborn voice. He was an old man who tormented a person's sight, smell, and hearing all at once.
Yet, the man before him was different. Though his clothes were not luxurious, he wore a neat martial robe and even had a hero's headband wrapped around his forehead. The cloth tied around his waist was not a collection of dirty rags, but neatly patched fabrics of similar colors, making it look almost like an ornament.
One, two, three... eight?
"The Future Successor?"
"I am still lacking, but I do hold that position."
Not only Yoo Jeong but also the surrounding people looked at him in surprise. Until he introduced himself, they had taken him for an ordinary clan martial artist. It was all due to his clean attire, which was highly uncharacteristic of the Beggars' Sect.
"Ha. I heard the Beggars' Sect hides their Future Successor away and makes them live as a beggar first. Looking at you now, it seems the clan of beggars has grown quite wealthy."
"What does clothing matter when it comes to practicing righteousness and chivalry? It is the intent that counts."
Cheong-gae laughed off Hwangbo Mujin's sarcasm with an easygoing smile. However, the eyes briefly revealed through his squinted lids were entirely devoid of emotion. Perhaps Hwangbo Mujin felt it too, as his gaze, which had been fixed on Byeok Sogun, shifted to Cheong-gae. Their eyes clashed in midair.
It was a touch-and-go situation, but—
Tap, tap.
At the sound of Yoo Jeong tapping his scabbard while glaring coldly at them, the two quickly averted their eyes.
"Next."
In the newly subdued atmosphere, the introductions slowly continued.
Seok Gyeol, a branch member of the Seok Clan Manor.
Danmok I-hyang of the Danmok Clan.
Baekri Eon of the Baekri Clan.
"...I am Seong Yueun of Hyemyeongdang."
Yoo Jeong, who had been half-listening while merely memorizing their names, flinched. The gloomy-faced woman—it was because of the sect she belonged to.
"Hyemyeongdang? The Divine Doctor's?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
Startled by the question, she hurriedly nodded. Yoo Jeong owed a debt of gratitude to the Divine Doctor. Her senior sister, Ssangjeol-papa, had also once belonged to Hyemyeongdang. Yoo Jeong examined the woman anew.
Yueun flinched repeatedly under his scanning gaze. Seeing that she was excessively tense, Yoo Jeong lightly tapped her shoulder.
"You do not seem very accustomed to martial arts, but do not worry too much."
"Ah, yes."
Perhaps because she came from Hyemyeongdang, a place of physicians, Yueun's hands were clean. To be precise, there were no traces of her ever handling weapons. Furthermore, unlike the Divine Doctor or Ssangjeol-papa, who were well-versed in self-defense arts, her thighs, though slender and long, were not firm. At the very least, the slight bulge at her temples and her subtle aura indicated that she could handle internal energy reasonably well.
She would lose even if she fought Young Master Byeok.
Judging by how she couldn't even meet Yoo Jeong's eyes properly, she likely wouldn't be able to keep her gaze steady in a real fight. That was a matter of mindset before skill. If a threat were to arise, this woman would undoubtedly be the most vulnerable. Having made his assessment, Yoo Jeong gave her shoulder a gentle pat and walked away. At that, Seong Yueun immediately hid behind Danmok I-hyang.
"Ha. What a complete ragtag bunch."
Hwangbo Mujin snorted at the sight. Seong Yueun glared at him with narrowed eyes, but after some hesitant mumbling, her gaze quickly dropped back to her toes.
"I am the last, then. I am Byeok Sogun of the Byeok Clan."
Byeok Sogun, the dark-skinned giant, clasped his hands in greeting to the group. The young dragons and phoenixes watched him with curiosity as he spoke fluently despite his unmistakable appearance of a Kunlun Slave. All except for one person.
"Hmph. The Byeok Clan?"
Hwangbo Mujin sneered, twisting the corner of his mouth.
"A ruined family that couldn't even preserve their own martial arts. Truly a fitting clan for a Kunlun Slave."
"Brother Hwangbo!"
"He is a fellow companion walking the righteous path. Your words are too harsh."
Watching him spit out words so severe that even Seok Gyeol and Cheong-gae stepped in to stop him, Yoo Jeong thought: If trouble arises in this group, he will definitely be the cause of it.
Grit.
The sound of Byeok Sogun grinding his teeth echoed across the plains.