Chapter 45: In the Human World, April's Fragrance Ends (16)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 45: In the Human World, April's Fragrance Ends (16)
Before accepting Hang In-woo’s invitation, Lee Yu-baek called Yeon So-wol aside.
“So-wol. I need you to go in my place and offer your condolences to each of the families. When you’re finished, meet us at the valley I mentioned earlier.”
“Yes, Father.”
He was referring to the inner disciples who had been injured or killed in the recent battle—the ones who had charged into the Golden Powder Gang’s territory to save Yeon So-wol.
At the time, the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall’s inner disciples had managed to tie up a significant portion of the Golden Powder Gang’s top fighters. That was the decisive reason Yeon So-wol had been able to hold out for so long on his own.
Lee Yu-baek emphasized his point.
“That is simply the nature of people. When someone is in pain, when they have lost a child, seeing the survivors eating and living well can stir bitter, complicated feelings. We must not treat them with indifference. Whenever something good happens, we must never forget them. We must always take care of them first.”
“Yes, Father.”
They had already sent gold and food during the last feast, but with rumors circulating that Hang In-woo had prepared elixirs and was throwing a grand drinking party, it was important to show their consideration once more.
Yeon So-wol laid out gold, silk, cotton cloth, rice, and wine, then supervised the porters as they shouldered the loads. A warm breeze was already causing beads of sweat to form on the porters’ brows.
Guangdong sat at the southern tip of the world. There, flowers bloomed and withered in the blink of an eye. Even in the mountainous Xinxing County, the spring blossoms had long since fallen by the end of the fourth lunar month. It was the season when fresh green leaves began to deepen into lush, heavy foliage.
Breathing in the thick scent of spring, Yeon So-wol paused his work for a moment and went to find Kang Mu-hyeok.
“Elder Brother.”
“Ah, little brother. What is it?”
Kang Mu-hyeok, who had been packing bottles of wine for the outing, turned to look at him.
“Well… I know this might sound paranoid.”
“Hm?”
Yeon So-wol took a deep breath before speaking.
“Shouldn’t we be more cautious? Of all places, he chose a secluded valley far from the city for a simple drink.”
“……”
Kang Mu-hyeok fell silent for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
“Why? You think Martial Uncle Hang In-woo has laid a trap for us?”
“I know, it sounds ridiculous. But… I can’t shake this feeling of anxiety. You know what they say: ‘You can fathom the depths of the sea, but never the depths of a person’s heart.’ There’s no harm in being careful, is there? Father hasn’t even fully recovered from his internal injuries yet…”
Kang Mu-hyeok smiled, clearly finding the concern admirable.
“So-wol, you’re right to be cautious. But do you know something?”
“What is it?”
“The truth is, Master has made his own preparations. He managed to get his hands on an Injury Healing Pill. Yesterday, with my help, he consumed half of it and saved the other half.”
“An Injury Healing Pill?”
“That’s right. It’s a precious and rare medicine for treating internal injuries. Even with just half, he’s likely extinguished the most urgent fires. If the worst should happen, he can swallow the other half on the spot and fight with his full strength at least once.”
“A medicine like that…”
“Why do you think Master took it yesterday of all days? Why only half instead of the whole thing? He is also preparing, just in case something happens.”
“I see…”
Yeon So-wol felt a wave of relief. But he couldn’t relax completely.
“Still, if something really were to happen, I don’t think that would be enough.”
“Alright. I’ll see what I can do on my end. Don’t you worry, little brother. Just focus on your task. Your job is very important, too.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
Yeon So-wol backed away for the time being. He was still anxious, but there was nothing more he could do. He didn’t yet have enough practical authority or influence to change the course of events.
Maybe I’m just overreacting.
Was it this heavy spring breeze that kept making him so uneasy? Yeon So-wol shook his head and left the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall with the porters.
*
The streets of Xinxing County were quieter than usual.
The Xinxing County Guard had been conducting training drills for several days. From the Senior Rank 8 Commander Yang Ik-seon to the Junior Rank 9 County Inspector Jang Wi-san, most of Xinxing’s military officers and soldiers were out in the field. Many citizens had been conscripted for labor, bustling about to feed and clothe the troops.
Looking at the quiet streets, Lee Yu-baek muttered to himself.
“So the County Guard is training. It’s been a long time, if I remember correctly. Seeing this really makes it feel like the Mount Cheonro Subjugation is just around the corner.”
Though Lee Yu-baek would be the one leading the subjugation, the County Guard couldn’t afford to be idle. Since Xinxing County was situated at the foot of Mount Cheonro, they had to be prepared for any contingency.
The warm spring breeze seemed intoxicating. His youngest disciple, Mo Cheong, suddenly spoke up.
“Master, I heard that Martial Uncle Hang has acquired several roots of Human-shaped Ginseng, each over a hundred years old.”
“Several roots, not just one? And Human-shaped Ginseng at that?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Hah. The White Dragon Gang is truly something else.”
The White Dragon Gang’s primary business was guiding salt merchants and protecting herb gatherers across Mount Cheonro. As formidable as the Mount Cheonro Stronghold was, it couldn’t control every inch of the vast mountain range. Furthermore, the White Dragon Gang was powerful enough to be considered one of the three great factions of Xinxing County, which made their operations possible.
The White Dragon Gang cleverly evaded the stronghold’s surveillance as they traversed the mountain. They were occasionally caught, but even then, they would simply pay a hefty tribute to avoid bloodshed. From the stronghold’s perspective, there was no need to engage the White Dragon Gang in a life-and-death duel when they could just take the payment. Besides, the gang was so elusive that catching them wasn't easy anyway.
In other words, the members of the White Dragon Gang knew Mount Cheonro as well as the bandits or the herb gatherers themselves. For them to have found elixirs after a dedicated search was perhaps to be expected.
But several roots of Human-shaped Ginseng was another story entirely. It was a type of wild ginseng said to have limbs like a person and skin as fair as a child’s. It was a precious elixir, several tiers above the Dragon Scale Mushroom that Yeon So-wol had consumed before. Even for the White Dragon Gang, finding such a thing was a matter of heavenly luck.
Mo Cheong’s voice was filled with excitement.
“It’s only natural that he’d give at least one to you, Master. The real question is how many he’ll give. Surely he won’t give them all, right? Hehehe. Then maybe we could get a root, too…”
Thwack!
Lee Yu-baek flicked Mo Cheong on the forehead.
“Ow!”
“Didn’t I tell you, you brat? That fellow In-woo may be built like a mountain, but his heart is as small as a millet seed. Don’t you dare say things like that. If he heard you, he’d change his mind about giving me anything. That’s the kind of man he is.”
Shaking his head, Lee Yu-baek walked out through the main gate of Xinxing County. Their party consisted of four people in total: Lee Yu-baek and the Three Gentlemen of Pungryu.
However…
Murmur, murmur—
“……”
Lee Yu-baek glanced behind him.
“What are you all doing?”
All sorts of people were trailing behind his group. There were idlers who looked rich and bored, as well as ordinary martial artists from Xinxing County. There was a Confucian scholar with a dented cap and robes patched in several places. There were gossips who loved talking more than eating, storytellers, and musicians…
All told, there were at least forty of them.
Lee Yu-baek frowned.
“Why are you following us?”
As everyone else avoided his gaze, someone shouted.
“Following you? We’re just going where we need to go!”
“Is that so? Then please, go on ahead.”
Lee Yu-baek took a step to the side. But the person who had just shouted didn’t move forward.
Lee Yu-baek sighed.
“I’m aware of the rumor that Hang In-woo has prepared an elixir for me. But it’s just a rumor. How could an elixir that In-woo found be mine? It’s his. So stop being greedy for a spectacle that doesn’t exist and go home.”
But despite his words, not a single person turned back. In this era, people were that desperate for a spectacle. An elixir—this could be the moment the saga of Hang In-woo and Lee Yu-baek reached its climax. The fact that only forty people had shown up to see it was, if anything, a surprisingly small number. It was only because so many people had been conscripted for labor.
Guessing as much, Lee Yu-baek let out a deep sigh.
“I’ve said my piece. Do not follow us.”
He turned his back and began to walk with long strides. The Three Gentlemen of Pungryu followed him.
Rustle—
The crowd, perhaps feeling a little self-conscious, followed along in a line, keeping a bit more distance than before. Lee Yu-baek sighed under his breath.
*
The destination was farther than they had expected.
Following one of the streams that flowed into the Jipseong River, they climbed and turned, winding their way up until they reached a valley that stretched deep into the mountains. The warm air grew noticeably cooler.
“I never knew there was a valley like this here.”
“This is the White Dragon Gang for you. They know all the mountain paths, so they must have kept a place like this to themselves.”
Clear water shattered like pearls against the rocks, the wind was cool, and the winding terrain of the valley was a delight to the eyes. A little farther in, the view opened up to reveal a large pond where the valley stream pooled before flowing onward. Around it, members of the White Dragon Gang were busy pitching tents and preparing food and wine.
Above them, red flowers were in riotous bloom.
“Is that… surely not. Are those peach blossoms? It’s almost the end of the fourth month, yet they’re in full bloom like this.”
“I know, right, Senior Brother? Doesn’t it look like the place where Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei took their oath? On a day like today, too. It’s meaningful. Truly meaningful.”
Kang Mu-hyeok and Seon Je-hun looked around, entranced. This particular valley, with its uniquely open view, was nestled cozily between two ridges like a basin, and it was filled entirely with flowering trees. The fully bloomed flowers on every tree were carried on the wind, creating a dense shower of petals. It was like the legendary Peach Blossom Spring.
But Lee Yu-baek shook his head.
“Those aren’t peach blossoms. Look at the leaves. They look just like bamboo leaves, don’t they?”
“Oh. You’re right.”
“It’s called oleander. The flowers resemble peach blossoms, but they bloom when it’s warm. And they’re poisonous.”
“Poisonous?”
“It’s not a lethal poison in small amounts, but poison is poison. I was wondering why we never knew about such a magnificent valley. It seems people avoided it because it was full of oleander.”
“Aha.”
“But we’re martial artists, so it’s not a problem for us. In-woo found a good spot.”
Lee Yu-baek turned and shouted to those behind him.
“The oleander here is poisonous! Don’t come any closer! I won’t be responsible if you get sick!”
In the distance, the people who had been panting as they followed them came to a halt. Lee Yu-baek clicked his tongue and walked forward.
“Elder Brother, you’re here.”
Hang In-woo, who had been sitting under a tent, rose from his seat to greet Lee Yu-baek. Then, he glanced behind him and asked, “Who are those people?”
“Ah. Ignore them. They kept following us even when I told them not to. They must have far too much time on their hands.”
Hang In-woo frowned and suddenly yelled.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing! I’m trying to have some quality time with my sworn brother! Have you no manners? Hey, chase them all away!”
As the White Dragon Gang members turned and approached, the spectators who had stopped in the distance flinched in unison. One of them, a storyteller, raised his voice.
“Ch-Chief Hang In-woo! We heard today is a momentous occasion! How can such a beautiful story—of a sworn younger brother obtaining an elixir for his sworn elder brother—have no witnesses! We won’t be a bother, so if you would please just grant us a spot in the corner…!”
“Ha!”
Hang In-woo looked dumbfounded, while Lee Yu-baek was mortified.
“Honestly, those people just have to put it like that… In-woo, I’m sorry. Don’t pay any mind to the ramblings of people who don’t know anything.”
Hang In-woo shook his head and headed back to his seat.
“Well, do as you please. You guys, leave them be! Elder Brother, let’s have a seat.”
“Yes, let’s.”
“But I don’t see Yeon So-wol. I was hoping to see him today, too.”
“I gave him a task to do. He’ll be a little late.”
“Is that so?”
Hang In-woo and Lee Yu-baek sat facing each other, with the White Dragon Gang’s squad leaders and the Three Gentlemen of Pungryu sitting beside them in a line. Among the squad leaders was Smiling Dog, a member of the Three Dogs of Xinxing. He grinned as he offered wine to the Three Gentlemen.
All the wine was fine and rare, and all the food was a gourmet feast. The valley stream flowed coolly, and the scattering oleander petals made one forget the season. It was clear how much effort Hang In-woo had put into preparing for this day.
After a few pleasant cups of wine had been exchanged, Hang In-woo asked abruptly.
“Elder Brother, how is your internal injury?”
“It’s killing me.”
“Honestly. Why were you so reckless? So, what do you say? Should I give you some elixir?”
Lee Yu-baek grinned.
“Alright, then. If you have it, bring it out.”
Hang In-woo chuckled.
“You say that like you’re asking for something I was holding for you.”
“I just know my good little brother’s heart, that’s all.”
“Is that why you brought that whole crowd of spectators? Since the elixir I found was obviously going to be yours anyway, did you bring them on purpose to watch the presentation ceremony?”
“Hm?”
Lee Yu-baek flinched and turned to look at Hang In-woo. Hang In-woo was smiling.