Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Chapter 6. To the World Outside the World......(2)
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The warriors of the Mount Hua Sect, following Priest Qinghe, arrived at Chanyang County on the border between Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces.
Chanyang County lay over four hundred li west of the capital city of Xi'an and had long been a hub of transportation. As such, it bustled with people year-round.
"That's our rally point."
Priest Qinghe pointed to a fairly large manor in Chanyang County. The estate, known as Yun Manor, looked exceedingly luxurious at a glance.
"Is it connected to the Wudang Sect?"
"When the lord of Yun Manor was young, he received a great favor from our sect. That's why he's quite cooperative with us."
Priest Qinghe answered Mokyung's question calmly.
Mokyung's face twisted slightly for a moment.
Shaanxi Province had always been Mount Hua territory. Back then, no other sect would have dared dream of establishing a base there.
'That must mean Mount Hua's prestige isn't what it used to be.'
Mokyung's gaze grew heavy.
At that moment, Unkyeong spoke up.
"Senior Brother?"
"What's wrong?"
Mokyung flashed a bright smile, as if he'd never been serious. Seeing this, Unkyeong looked relieved.
He had been worried Mokyung might not hold back his anger. Noticing Unkyeong's concern, Mokyung patted his shoulder.
"I'm fine."
"I'm glad to hear it. I hope you keep smiling like that from now on."
"Of course. Don't worry."
They followed Priest Qinghe into Yun Manor. In the wide open space at its center, over a hundred people had gathered. Some spotted Priest Qinghe and hurried over.
A pot-bellied middle-aged priest clasped his hands in greeting to Priest Qinghe.
"Senior Brother."
"Junior Brother Cheonggwang."
Priest Qinghe smiled faintly.
The middle-aged priest, whose belly protruded in a most unpriestly manner, was his junior brother, Priest Cheonggwang. Though not quite on Priest Qinghe's level, he was still an exceptional warrior.
Just as Priest Qinghe had gone to Mount Hua for aid, Priest Cheonggwang had ascended to the Zhongnan Sect.
Two men approached Priest Cheonggwang. One was a middle-aged warrior in his late forties, the other a youth who appeared to be in his early twenties. What they shared was the fierce intensity in their eyes.
Priest Cheonggwang introduced them to Priest Qinghe.
"Please greet them. This is Priest Qinghe, our sect's supreme master and the renowned Greatest Sword of Hubei. Priest Qinghe, these are Hero Yeom Junghwa, the Zhongnan True Sword from the Zhongnan Sect, and his disciple, Young Hero Geum Hansu."
No sooner had Priest Cheonggwang finished than Priest Qinghe clasped his hands.
"Pleased to meet you, Hero Yeom and Young Hero Geum. I am Qinghe of Wudang."
"It's an honor to meet you, Priest Qinghe. I am Yeom Junghwa, unworthy as I am."
"I am Geum Hansu of Zhongnan. Meeting Wudang's Greatest Sword, Priest Qinghe, is an infinite honor. I look forward to your guidance."
Yeom Junghwa and Geum Hansu bowed politely.
Now Priest Qinghe introduced the Mount Hua warriors.
"These are Priest Hyeonso and Young Hero Mokyung from Mount Hua."
"I am Hyeonso of Mount Hua."
"Mokyung offers his greetings."
The two clasped their hands.
In that instant, Yeom Junghwa and Geum Hansu's eyes gleamed.
Mount Hua and Zhongnan both had roots in Shaanxi Province.
When Mount Hua prospered, Zhongnan declined, and vice versa. Perhaps because of this, the two sects had never mingled much.
"To think I'd meet my neighbors like this. Pleased to see you, Priest Hyeonso."
"The pleasure is mine. I worry I might be a burden on the expedition, Hero Yeom."
Yeom Junghwa and Priest Hyeonso exchanged greetings first, followed by Mokyung and Geum Hansu.
"I am Mokyung of Mount Hua. Pleased to meet you!"
"I am Geum Hansu of Zhongnan. Let's get along well."
True to their youth, sparks flew from the eyes of the two as they sized each other up.
'So this is Mount Hua's top disciple.'
'Zhongnan's once-in-a-millennium prodigy.'
They recognized each other's exceptional talent.
Young warriors of the same era. With both Mount Hua and Zhongnan based in Shaanxi, clashes were inevitable.
Thus, their gazes held both wariness and curiosity.
It wasn't just them. All the Mount Hua and Zhongnan warriors gathered at Yun Manor eyed each other with the same mix of caution and interest.
Priest Qinghe stepped forward then.
"Leave the young ones be. Let's head inside and discuss our plans."
Priest Hyeonso and Yeom Junghwa nodded.
They were here to track the Demonic Cult's traces. There was no time for idle posturing.
As the sect elders entered, only the young warriors remained.
Mokyung broke the silence, addressing Geum Hansu.
"How about a drink, Young Hero Geum?"
"Sounds good!"
Geum Hansu smirked coldly.
Mokyung beckoned, and Unkyeong along with several Mount Hua prodigies approached. Geum Hansu did the same, summoning Zhongnan's talents.
They were stuck together anyway. Familiarizing themselves now wasn't a bad idea.
Thus, a drinking gathering formed between Mount Hua and Zhongnan warriors. But Damho wasn't invited. Unkyeong had objected.
As Damho quietly watched them depart, Yeon So-ha approached.
"Are you all right?"
"What do you mean?"
"Not being invited to that gathering."
"Not at all!"
Yeon So-ha smiled at Damho's firm denial. She'd expected as much from him.
"The Wudang disciples are planning a simple drink as well. Care to join?"
Damho shook his head again. But Yeon So-ha wasn't disappointed. She'd anticipated this too.
"Then..."
She bowed her head slightly and passed by Damho.
Damho looked around.
The remaining disciples had been assigned quarters by Yun Manor staff. They were led to buildings surrounding a large courtyard.
Separated by the yard into different rooms, yet close enough to see each other anytime.
Damho received a small room too. But he didn't rest there—instead, he headed straight out.
Priest Hyeonso had given permission for a brief outing.
It was Damho's first time in Chanyang County. Yet his eyes showed no hesitation or fear.
As Damho emerged, a guard at Yun Manor's main gate eyed him curiously.
"Why are you coming out?"
"I'll be back soon. Might I borrow a horse?"
"A horse?"
"Would that be possible?"
The guard pondered Damho's request before replying.
"The lord said to cooperate fully, so lending one is no issue. But return it by tonight. All right?"
"That'll suffice."
"Wait a moment then."
The guard instructed a nearby servant to fetch a horse. It was a glossy white-coated steed.
"It's a fine horse, so handle it with care."
"Thank you."
Damho thanked the guard, led the horse out of Yun Manor, and glanced around.
Far to the south loomed a massive mountain. Distant, yet so towering it was clearly visible from here.
Damho knew its name.
'Mount Tai Bai.'
He spurred the horse toward Mount Tai Bai.
Though it was his first time riding, fear didn't touch Damho's eyes. He rode like a madman.
Southward, ever southward. After an hour of hard riding, he reached an unnamed mountain path. Surrounded by low hills, the way was faint beneath knee-high grass.
Damho's gaze deepened.
He dismounted and pushed through the grass. It was a place he'd visited several times with his father. Even then, he'd oriented by lofty Mount Tai Bai.
How long had he walked? Suddenly, a fairly spacious basin opened before him.
Damho's eyes sank deeper as he beheld the thicket-choked depression, barren of footing.
"Father, Mother, Gareung."
His voice came out hoarse and cracked.
Now just ruins overgrown with brush and weeds, this place had once housed people.
Thick veins bulged on Damho's clenched fists.
This was his hometown.
A village of thirty households, over a hundred souls living happily.
Mother tilled the fields, Father gathered herbs. Damho cared for his young sibling until their parents returned at dusk.
Mostly grueling days, yet they remained the happiest of his life.
His memories here ended six years ago.
Damho knelt amid the dense undergrowth.
Crunch!
His hands clawed the ground. Soil and grass filled his palms. Fingers tore and bled, but he paid no mind.
His shoulders trembled faintly. But no tears fell.
They had dried up six years ago.
The moment he watched his father and mother die horrifically before his eyes.
He still didn't know why they had to die. Bandits had come like a plague, stripping the village of life.
Damho murmured softly.
"I've returned."
His voice rasped, thick with phlegm. Yet his eyes burned brighter than ever.
"I still don't understand. Why you had to die. Why you had to lose your lives like that... If it was simply because we were weak... If that's the only reason, then this world is surely wrong."
His lament echoed on the wind.
Over a hundred dead, yet no one stepped forward to uncover the truth. Not even Mount Hua, who saved him.
They merely assumed bandits had raided and plundered, taking no further action.
To Damho, adrift in world-shattering loss, it was just another's misfortune.
That was when Damho realized.
No matter how friendly they pretend, others are ultimately just that—others.
The sole exception: Priest Hyeonso.
Only he truly cared about Damho's plight and sought solutions together.
Damho's eyes reddened and bloodshot. But no tears came.
He stood statue-still for nearly half an hour before rising.
"I have never forgotten you. And they never will either."