Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Walking the Path Together (3)
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Dam Ho's shoulders shook as he knelt on the ground.
His lungs expanded fully to take in fresh air, and his heart pounded as if it might burst at any moment. To calm his trembling legs, Dam Ho gripped them tightly with both hands.
Once his breathing had steadied somewhat, Dam Ho lifted his head and looked ahead. He could see the rock with the circle drawn on it.
Every day, he had run toward that rock again and again.
His goal was the small circle on the rock. He had run countless times to thrust his fist into it.
At first, he couldn't even reach the circle—not even the line at the base. His path would veer far off to the side.
Running properly, running straight.
To do that, he needed to fully understand his own body's condition. The angle of his bent legs, the movement of his muscles when his feet struck the ground, and the weight they could bear.
It had taken nearly a month just to get his direction right. After that, he began gradually increasing the distance.
That was when the true hell began.
Pushing off the ground with his twisted legs brought excruciating pain. It felt like his entire legs were twisting and his muscles tearing to shreds.
Still, he gritted his teeth and ran. He tried to become numb to the pain. And then, at some point, the pain truly faded. Or rather, he had forgotten it.
It took a month to reach one zhang (three meters), and another two months to double that. And today, Dam Ho had finally thrust his fist into the circle on the rock.
Proof of that was the blood flowing from his fist. His skin had torn open upon colliding with the rock.
"Huu!"
Dam Ho rose to his feet.
He had barely climbed the first step he desired. Countless more steps remained ahead. He couldn't afford to sit and rest after just one.
Dam Ho drew another line extending from the rock. The distance increased by a little over one zhang.
'Faster, more powerfully.'
It wasn't enough to simply reach the rock.
He needed to infuse it with enough force and internal energy to shatter the massive rock in a single strike.
Pat!
Dam Ho launched himself toward the rock again.
The sweat droplets he shed scattered into the air.
Even as night fell, Dam Ho could not rest.
He consumed a Yunyang Pill and circulated the Mid-Heaven Heart Formula. Internal energy was accumulating in his dantian at a rapid pace, day by day.
By his side as he cultivated sat the Realized Master Hyun So.
Before the Realized Master Hyun So lay an open book. It was a blank volume, with nothing written on it.
The Realized Master Hyun So began to wield his brush over the blank pages. A human figure appeared on the once-empty white paper, accompanied by writing.
For the past four months, not a single day had passed without discussing martial arts with Dam Ho. The result was a clear direction and concept.
This was the process of recording those results. Not a single character could be written carelessly.
It was a book for Dam Ho. No matter how well one knew something in their mind or body, seeing it in writing was different.
"Huu!"
At last, the Realized Master Hyun So set down his brush.
The book, empty just moments ago, was now densely filled with illustrations of a person executing martial techniques and tiny characters.
The Realized Master Hyun So gazed at the book he had created for a long while. A mix of emotions swirled in his eyes.
"I wonder if I'm doing the right thing."
The martial art recorded in the book was steeped in far too much killing intent. It was hard to believe it had been created within the Daoist Mount Hua Sect.
Perhaps it was because of Dam Ho's nature, or because the Realized Master Hyun So's own heart had been agitated when they first began creating the art.
He wanted to prove something to the sect leader and True Person Hyun Geom, who had dismissed Dam Ho. So he had brought out the long-sealed Blood Heaven Claw and worked to fuse it with various minor martial arts.
They were arts unrelated to the Mount Hua Sect, so there was no hesitation. But as time passed and his mind calmed, he could view everything objectively.
Once completed, the martial art in the book would undoubtedly possess tremendous power. It lacked the compassion that any Daoist sect should inherently hold.
"It seems my eyes were blinded by anger. To infuse such fierce killing intent into a martial art for my disciple."
The Realized Master Hyun So shook his head. But he wasn't overly worried.
It was merely a martial art with its basic concept outlined. There were only a few forms, and no telling when it might be completed.
Even conservatively, it would take decades, and it might span generations. Creating a new martial art was that arduous a task.
By the time Dam Ho completed this new martial art, he would be quite old, and the rage and killing intent boiling in his blood would have subsided considerably by then.
"Huu!"
It was then. Dam Ho, who had been cultivating until now, finally opened his eyes. A sharp glint flickered in them before vanishing.
Now, he felt he truly understood the essence of the Mid-Heaven Heart Formula.
The internal energy built through the Mid-Heaven Heart Formula was endlessly heavy. It was simple yet weighty, weighty yet not slow.
Without the aid of the Yunyang Pill, he wouldn't have grasped its essence so quickly.
Now Dam Ho clearly understood why his master had taught him the Mid-Heaven Heart Formula and the Blood Heaven Claw.
The two arts meshed as naturally as if they had been one from the start. If he mastered both and fused them into the martial art they were creating now, it would unleash tremendous power.
The Realized Master Hyun So smiled as he looked at Dam Ho.
"Once you can infuse that heavy energy into your fist, no one will be able to stand in your way."
Dam Ho bowed his head.
The Realized Master Hyun So was a single torch illuminating the impenetrable darkness before him. Thanks to his guidance, Dam Ho could gauge his direction and press forward.
"Take this book."
"What is this?"
"I've recorded the concepts we've developed together. If you ever feel stuck, study this book and ponder deeply."
"Thank you."
Dam Ho received the book with both hands from the Realized Master Hyun So. There were far more blank pages than filled ones.
"We started it together, but completing it is your task alone. How it evolves is entirely up to you."
"I will keep that in mind, Master."
After that, Dam Ho and the Realized Master Hyun So discussed the martial art in the book at length.
Dam Ho shared his insights from practicing it, while the Realized Master Hyun So drew on all his knowledge of martial arts to resolve Dam Ho's questions.
A smile crept onto Dam Ho's lips.
This martial art was only at the conceptual stage. He had no idea how arduous the path ahead would be. But at this moment, Dam Ho was happy.
Happy to share this moment with his master.
***
"Huu!"
Mok Goeng, the chief escort of the Northern Route Escort Agency, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
Even though the wind was still chilly, sweat poured down heavily. The sunlight was that intense.
"Spring must be just around the corner. The flowers are probably already blooming in the Central Plains."
A smile appeared on his lips.
Then, a young escort rider approached on horseback. Im Ho-ryeong, in his early thirties, was a junior Mok Goeng cherished like a brother.
"Sister-in-law must already be on your mind, big brother."
"What about you? We've been away from home for seven months now. I'm dying to smell my wife's cooking."
"Same here. I can't wait to get back and see my wife and kids."
A wistful look crossed Im Ho-ryeong's face.
It was a trading expedition all the way to the Western Regions. The Northern Trade Company had pioneered the finest route to the West and staked everything on this venture.
In truth, seven months wasn't long. Trips to the Western Regions typically took over a year. They had hurried and given their all.
As a result, they had opened trade lines with the West. Now, all that remained was to soar even higher.
The two turned to look behind them.
Hundreds of people and countless wagons followed. Merchants of the Northern Trade Company and escorts of the agency. Smiles lit their faces.
Having reaped ample rewards, their steps back to the Central Plains were light indeed.
Their current location was Lop Nor Lake in Xinjiang Province. Yumen Pass in Gansu Province, the gateway to the Central Plains, was not far off.
If they traveled diligently, they could enter Gansu in just ten days. From there to the Northern Trade Company's headquarters in Hubei Province was another month, but since they were nearly home in the Central Plains, their steps were buoyant.
Mok Goeng asked,
"And the Company Lord?"
"He's sleeping in the carriage."
"No wonder he's tired. How much worry has he endured all this time?"
"But with the results we wanted, he can rest easy now."
Oh Seung-gyeong, lord of the Northern Trade Company, was a lay disciple of the prestigious Wudang Sect in Hubei Province.
For thirty years, armed only with Wudang martial arts and a single sword, he had built the company. During that time, the Northern Trade Company had become the foremost in Hubei.
To protect it, he established the Northern Route Escort Agency, with Mok Goeng—who had started as a mere escort—as its chief.
"Congratulations in advance, big brother."
"What for?"
"Once we return to Hubei, you'll be the lord of the Northern Route Escort Agency, right? Congratulations."
"You rascal. That's only if we make it back safely."
Oh Seung-gyeong had declared that upon safely completing this expedition, he would hand the position of Escort Agency Lord to Mok Goeng. For a man who began as a lowly escort, it was the highest honor.
"We're almost in the Central Plains now. What could go wrong?"
Im Ho-ryeong grinned broadly. Mok Goeng chuckled in response.
It was then.
Shiiik!
A sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air.
"Kraaak!"
A scream from an escort followed.
Mok Goeng and Im Ho-ryeong's faces changed instantly.
"What?"
They whipped around. An escort lay fallen from his horse, pierced by an arrow.
"An ambush? Who the hell..."
In that moment, figures clad head to toe in black cloaks emerged atop the hills one after another. Over a hundred of them.
"Who are you bastards?"
Mok Goeng and Im Ho-ryeong drew their swords and shouted. Tension etched their faces. The aura from the attackers was anything but ordinary.
Oh Seung-gyeong emerged from the carriage where he had been sleeping. He glared at the attackers and bellowed,
"I am Oh Seung-gyeong, lay disciple of Wudang and lord of the Northern Trade Company. Who are you to dare ambush us?"
Oh Seung-gyeong invoked Wudang.
One of the Nine Great Sects and leader of the Five Mountains Sword Schools—he hoped to intimidate the foes. But the response shattered his expectations.
The apparent leader of the attackers curled his lip.
"Is Wudang supposed to impress us?"
"To dare scorn Wudang."
Oh Seung-gyeong's anger flared.
He could endure much, but not insults to his sect, Wudang.
The leader approached Oh Seung-gyeong and the others, continuing,
"You have great pride in Wudang. But even that mighty Wudang held its breath when we were active."
"What?"
As suspicion dawned on Oh Seung-gyeong and Mok Goeng's faces, the leader cast off his cloak. A vivid emblem appeared on his chest.
A simple depiction of raging flames. The moment they saw it, Oh Seung-gyeong and the others paled.
"That emblem... Sacred Flame? Could it be the Demonic Cult?"
The organization said to have perished twenty years ago, the origin of all demons in the world.
That was the Demonic Cult.
Back then, the entire Central Plains had united to eradicate it.
After three years of brutal war, the Central Plains had finally destroyed the Demonic Cult. But the damage was immense. Countless sects lost their strength or were wiped out, and many still languished in its aftermath.
The leader's lip curled upward.
"Now do you understand? Why we fear no Wudang."
"Is... is it really the Demonic Cult?"
"See for yourselves."
The leader gestured.
In an instant, the warriors behind him charged at the Northern Trade Company and Escort Agency. A one-sided massacre began.
Oh Seung-gyeong's face twisted in horror. He exchanged a glance with Mok Goeng. A silent understanding passed between them.
Mok Goeng looked at Im Ho-ryeong.
"Ho-ryeong."
"Yes, Chief Escort!"
"Somehow, survive to the end, no matter what."
"What do you mean? I'll fight to the end with you."
"If they truly are the Demonic Cult, none of us will survive. But someone must live to inform the Central Plains of their existence. You're the only one among us with a chance. I beg you, Ho-ryeong."
"Kuh! Chief Escort."
Im Ho-ryeong's face contorted in anguish.
Oh Seung-gyeong and Mok Goeng turned from Im Ho-ryeong and stepped toward the battlefield. Resolve filled their faces.
That day, the Northern Trade Company and Escort Agency vanished from the world.