Chapter 81
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Azure Deer Green Oasis
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“Yeah? So what am I supposed to do about it?”
Old Man Jang gazed straight ahead once more and continued.
“What do you mean? Young Master, you must now stake your life to learn Young Master Seonwoyong’s martial arts.”
“Aw, come on. What are you talking about? I told you I’m not learning any martial arts……”
“You’re already learning it. That martial art.”
When Old Man Jang stated it flatly, Han Sojung asked in surprise.
“What are you saying? When did I ever learn any martial arts?”
Old Man Jang silently pointed his right index finger at Han Sojung’s left Curved Marsh acupoint.
The Curved Marsh acupoint was located on the outer side of the elbow joint, but as one of the body’s major vital points, pressing it hard could cause loss of consciousness.
Yet when Old Man Jang’s finger touched Han Sojung’s Curved Marsh acupoint, it bounced back with tremendous repulsion.
Han Sojung was the one startled by the sight.
“Huh? What’s going on? It tickles……”
“It’s called Repulsive Finger Force. Proof that your internal energy has already reached the Lohan Pure Azure realm.”
“Lohan Pure Azure? What’s that?”
“It means the flames in the furnace have begun to glow with pure blue light, ready to refine something by building it up. The breathing technique Young Master Seonwoyong passed to you is that very flame.”
But Han Sojung half-listened to Old Man Jang as he simply wiggled his hand this way and that.
Old Man Jang watched him for a while, sighed, and then continued.
“Anyway, Dunhuang is just ahead. Once we arrive, this old man planned to entrust you to a few people. They were like brothers to your late general father.”
Hearing this, Han Sojung slumped dejectedly and began fiddling with his seven-stringed zither.
“Tch. If I have to learn something, I’d rather learn from Brother Seonwoo anyway.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. It was the plan all along, but there’s no need to pick up stones when treasure lies right before your eyes.”
“Fine. I get it. Whatever.”
Hearing this, Old Man Jang, having gotten his way, broke into a broad smile.
“They won’t refuse if you ask, Young Master. The only concern is……”
“No, what’s there to worry about now?”
“If they tell you to join the Ming Cult……”
“Then I will. After the grace Brother gave me, what wouldn’t I do?”
* * *
As they left Qinghai Lake and drew nearer to Dunhuang, the landscape turned to desert.
Scattered rarely amid that barren expanse were precious green oases, and naturally, each hosted a sizable inn.
The Azure Deer Green Oasis was one such place, and in the front courtyard of the Azure Deer Inn stood clusters of countless animals.
Mostly horses and camels brought by travelers crossing the desert. Plus, the inn kept hundreds of cattle, sheep, and goats.
Water troughs were placed around the oasis for the animals to drink from, and into one plunged a man headfirst.
His hands bound behind his back with rope, the man flailing in the water trough was Noduk.
“Gah… Feels like I’m alive now. I survived.”
Pulling himself from the trough, Noduk wore a look of relief as he headed toward the inn’s entrance.
Twilight was falling over the desert, and the horse that had carried him followed behind.
“Welcome! Huh?”
The door opened, and the waiter who greeted reflexively fell silent at the sight of Noduk.
Torn clothes and facial scratches could be overlooked, but a drenched rat with hands tied behind entered—not your average guest.
“First, untie this rope for me.”
Noduk turned his back to the waiter and made the request.
“Y-Yes, sir.”
As the waiter struggled with the ropes binding Noduk’s wrists, everyone in the inn—seated and eating or drinking—began watching the spectacle.
“Um… sir. This just won’t come undone.”
After grunting futilely for a while, the waiter pulled away and spoke.
Indeed, the ropes tied expertly by a Gale Wind Temple expert, now soaked, refused to yield.
“Useless fool. Can’t even untie a single knot? Go fetch a knife and cut it.”
Noduk bellowed in fury, and the waiter scurried flustered toward the kitchen.
At that moment, one old man who had been watching gestured to Noduk.
“Hey, over here. Come. That waiter’s skills mean he’d hack away for an hour with a knife and still fail.”
Noduk grasped the old man’s point at once.
The waiter’s knife work was poor, and one slip could injure him.
Noduk bowed his head in greeting and pleaded.
“You’re right, elder. This rope’s tough, soaked through—far from easy. If you could, please cut it for me.”
The old man nodded, and Noduk approached, turning his back.
There sat two old men amicably drinking.
The one who spoke to Noduk was the Six Gates Immortal, and across from him, impassively draining his cup, was Jeon Sogi.
The Six Gates Immortal rummaged in his bosom, drew a small dagger, and swiftly sliced through the ropes binding Noduk’s wrists.
Snap.
As the cut ropes fell, Noduk sighed deeply and rubbed his wrists.
The Six Gates Immortal had already stowed the dagger and lifted his cup again.
“Now I feel alive. Thank you.”
“That’s enough. Go about your business.”
Noduk started to bow more but sensed their aversion to outsiders, so he clasped hands once and found an empty seat.
Only then did the waiter emerge from the kitchen with a suitable knife and stand before Noduk.
“Oh dear, sir. I’m late. But all’s well that ends well.”
“Hm. Whatever. I’m starving—bring four quick dishes, and a jar of strong liquor.”
The waiter nodded, taking the order, yet lingered oddly, waiting for something.
“What?”
Noduk glared up again, and the waiter spoke with a troubled look.
“Sir, sorry, but… payment upfront. Five taels……”
Noduk gave a wry smile and reached into his bosom.
But the pouch that should have been there was gone.
Flustered, Noduk patted himself down everywhere, but nothing of value emerged.
“No money on you?”
The waiter, watching, grinned smugly.
Proud of his judgment.
“Urgh. Then take my horse outside. Hurry and serve the order.”
Embarrassed and humiliated, Noduk snapped in rage.
Then the Six Gates Immortal, seated at the nearby table and observing, spoke up again.
“Hey. Come here—share our liquor and food. Abandon your horse here, and how will you travel this vast desert?”
It was entirely sound advice.
In the great desert, horse or camel was life itself.
Noduk hesitated briefly, then approached and bowed.
“This one is Noduk. I’ve received much grace from you elders and will surely repay it later.”
“Enough. In this vast, harsh desert, aiding the needy is only natural. Sit.”
As Noduk sat, the sharp-eyed waiter promptly set a cup and chopsticks before him.
First, the Six Gates Immortal lifted the jar with one hand and filled Noduk’s cup.
“Here, have a drink first. You look parched.”
Noduk no longer demurred, downed the liquor, and dug into the food.
Only after eating heartily did Noduk realize the two elders at his table were no ordinary folk.
The brow of the one who cut his ropes and offered the seat bore a deep baleful aura, yet he drank endless cups of potent brew without a hint of intoxication.
And the one before him neither drank nor spoke, merely observing the other’s demeanor.
When Noduk inquired about their identities, their response was:
“Why tally every thread of fate drifting through the jianghu?”
After that, Noduk quietly emptied cups and plates, and the elders said little.
Yet after about an hour, Jeon Sogi—who hadn’t spoken—finally opened his mouth.
“How is it? Ready to go again?”
The Six Gates Immortal nodded and rose.
“Let’s head out. We’ve got to give it our all.”
With that, the two opened the inn door and left.
Bewildered, Noduk merely watched their backs, as did the waiters and guests—none paid them much mind.
As if entranced, Noduk stood and followed the elders outside.
He simply felt he couldn’t stay seated.
The elders stood in one corner of the inn’s courtyard.
Before them loomed an old ram, bound, its wool eerily turned pitch black, yellow eyes dyed the same.
Twilight stretched their shadows long eastward when suddenly one elder seized the ram’s horns.
“Begin.”
The ram thrashed wildly but soon stilled, unable to escape the elder’s grasp.
Then the other elder approached the ram’s rear and inserted a hand into its anus.
The ram shuddered violently but quickly calmed.
The elder channeled his energy, and black qi began billowing from his body.
Watching, Noduk soon understood.
He was melting the alcohol’s toxins within, then expelling them via the booze-laden qi.
Using a live beast suggested the poison afflicting the elder was a living toxin.
Not truly alive, but self-moving, proliferating, and fading—thus called living toxin.
The elder’s detoxification took another hour to conclude.
“How do you feel now?”