Chapter 117
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Incident at the Mountain Gate
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The Wudang Daoists formed a tight encirclement around Yu Hyun to protect the elder Daoist, closing in with fierce intent.
"Halt!"
Late to the scene, the Three Dragons burst through their ranks and positioned themselves in a "pin" formation to shield Yu Hyun.
Nangong Seong drew his sword and stood in front of Yu Hyun, while Gye Du-sin gripped his azure bamboo staff on the right and Tang Sa-dog clutched handfuls of hidden needles on the left.
The sudden standoff turned the air deadly tense, and fear flickered in the eyes of the startled pilgrims.
Whoosh! Clack.
As the approaching Wudang Daoists hesitated, Nangong Seong swiftly inverted his sword, clasped his fists in salute, and shouted.
"I am Nangong Seong of the Nangong Clan and a member of the Latent Dragon Squad! This man is the captain of the Righteous Martial Alliance's Latent Dragon Squad! There must be some misunderstanding, so I beseech the wise elders of Wudang to sheath your blades!"
"That won't be possible!"
"......"
Even after the plea, the Wudang Daoists' momentum showed no sign of waning. If anything, the Three Dragons' intervention only made them press forward more aggressively.
One of them stepped forward, glaring at Yu Hyun as he spoke.
"Even if he were the Alliance Leader himself, he cannot violate our sect's mountain gate without permission! Moreover, your captain has committed a grave offense against our sect's greatest elder, Elder Okhyeon! This is no mere matter to be settled with an apology! We will take you into custody right now! Drop your weapons and surrender!"
"......?"
Amid the Three Dragons' perplexed expressions at the sharp threat, Yu Hyun couldn't tear his eyes away from the old man.
Okhyeon? Not a con artist, but Wudang's most esteemed elder?
He didn't know the exact meaning, but "Okhyeon" was a title reserved for those of high honor.
What on earth was this "Great Elder" position...?
"Uncle, what should we do? Give us your orders."
"......"
As Nangong Seong whispered softly for instructions under the Wudang Daoist's intimidation, Yu Hyun finally snapped out of it.
Damn it. What do you mean, what to do?
He'd thought the old man was a fraud, but now he was Wudang's top elder... He couldn't fight Wudang over this, could he?
If it had truly been a con artist trespassing the mountain gate, stopping an evildoer might have been forgivable. But now even that excuse was gone.
He'd made a clear mistake, so all he could do was stand down...
"Heh heh, it's a misunderstanding. Just a misunderstanding. Please put away those menacing things, brethren of the mountain peak."
"......?"
Before Yu Hyun could speak to the Three Dragons, the old man—Okhyeon—chuckled and stepped in to restrain his disciples.
"Gr-Great Elder? What do you mean? These people..."
"The gates of the Dao should never be closed even to a child's heart. What does permission matter? Besides, I've already formed a bond with this man and merely wished to converse. Must you all swarm in with such hostility?"
"......"
"Heh heh, stand down now. Don't you see the pilgrims shrinking from the sword intent on your blades? Tsk tsk, blades meant to preserve life, now brimming with killing intent..."
"......!"
At his gentle yet reproving words, the Wudang Daoists glanced around, their faces flushing red as they sheathed their swords.
"Preserving life" was the ultimate goal of every Daoist sword.
Thus, Wudang blades carried righteous energy in place of murderous intent, earning them the name of the gentleman's sword that even showed mercy to foes.
Of course, the gate disciples hadn't reached such heights, but being called out by a sect elder for harboring killing intent filled them with shame.
"We apologize, Great Elder. And to you as well, sir. We didn't know you were already acquainted with the Great Elder and acted rashly when you crossed the mountain gate unannounced."
"Ah, forgive me. I got carried away..."
As Yu Hyun apologized, the Wudang disciples dismantled their encirclement and stepped aside.
But they didn't return to the gate.
They accepted the apology, yet their gazes remained sharp, poised to strike at any moment.
"Oh dear, oh dear... We've caused a needless disturbance for the pilgrims. Infinite mercies."
"......"
Yu Hyun's eyes widened slightly at the low, resonant Daoist chant.
It felt like a serene calm, like gently flowing water.
With the chant, a peculiar energy emanated from Okhyeon's body, spreading outward. The startled pilgrims' faces finally relaxed.
Not internal energy. If anything, it was akin to his own spirit energy.
No one among the surrounding martial artists seemed to sense it.
As Yu Hyun looked on in surprise, Okhyeon smiled warmly and said.
"Heh heh, you're the Latent Dragon Captain, yes?"
"Yes? Ah, yes."
"Yesterday's circumstances left much to be desired, but would you care to withdraw for a cup of tea?"
"......Sure, why not."
Yu Hyun replied with a reluctant expression.
Until moments ago, he'd pegged the man as a con artist, so he struggled to pin down his true nature.
He was undeniably a Wudang Daoist—and apparently their highest elder to boot...
"Now, you lot return to your duties. The people are getting anxious."
"Oh, no need. We should have escorted you from the start..."
"Heh heh, you fellows. Anyone hearing you might think I'm some feeble old invalid."
"Ah, that's not what we meant... Our apologies."
"......"
Yu Hyun gave a wry smile at the Wudang disciples' deferential apologies with every word from Okhyeon.
Damn, he really was an eccentric.
But then why had he conned that guy Museong?
Meanwhile, away from the moving pilgrims on the mountain path, Okhyeon rummaged through his bundle and pulled something out.
A worn leather waterskin and two teacups.
"Not enough cups here. What to do?"
"Oh, no need to worry about us."
"I like liquor. Not tea."
"I handle poison—er, no, liquor... Wait, no. I don't like any of it, so it's fine."
As Okhyeon looked apologetic, the Three Dragons glanced nervously at Yu Hyun and hastily withdrew.
Okhyeon smiled and poured tea into the two cups without pressing further.
Pour.
"Tea one can find anywhere in these mountains—decent enough, I suppose."
"......"
Yu Hyun accepted the steaming cup and gazed at Okhyeon with complex eyes.
"Immortal Qi, was it."
"Yes?"
"You wanted to ask, didn't you?"
"......"
Damn, this old guy's got mind-reading powers too.
"Yours is a bit different from what you possess. Mine accumulated naturally from following the Dao, while yours was forcibly gathered... Yet yours is closer to the source."
"Yes?"
Even at Yu Hyun's startled exclamation, Okhyeon merely smiled.
Yu Hyun was plunged into massive confusion.
Only the Sword King and Water Dragon King had ever recognized his energy. Could this old man be on their level?
No—unlike them, he sensed nothing, so perhaps an even higher realm...
"Heh heh, no need to be so shocked. Immortal Qi differs from internal energy. I can't walk swiftly like you young ones or transcend the body's limits."
"......But yesterday, clearly..."
"I merely packed my things and slipped away. You neither sensed nor saw it."
"......"
He heard the words, but they didn't make sense.
Escaping his energy sense without martial arts? In the blink of an eye he'd looked away? Was that possible?
"No need to understand. How could you comprehend the world's mysteries? The workings of all creation defy human reason from the start... Infinite mercies."
"......"
The more they talked, the more his head spun.
No cryptic koans or profound metaphors—just words that felt like a foreign tongue.
Such was the Dao.
The enlightened see, hear, and speak it, but to the unenlightened, it's mere fog.
Amid a mind full of question marks, he suddenly recalled what the old man had told him yesterday.
A talent to save the world. A being fallen from the heavens.
And about the fire and darkness in his name...
If this man was a true Daoist, truly enlightened, what had those words meant?
"Elder Daoist."
"Call me Okhyeon."
"......Okhyeon Daozhang. May I ask one favor?"
"Speak."
"Could you repeat what you told me yesterday?"
"......"
Okhyeon gazed steadily at Yu Hyun's request, then smiled and extended his hand.
What was this? Grab it?
Swish.
As Yu Hyun tentatively reached out, unsure...
Slap!
"You scoundrel, why grab an old man's hand like some flirt?"
"Yes?"
"If you want to ask, you pay the tip first."
"......"
"You think I'm digging for buried treasure or something?"
"......"
Just one, old man. Just one!
One moment he's a sage ready to ascend to immortality...
Yu Hyun awkwardly smiled and pulled out his money pouch.
"H-How much?"
"One thousand gold taels."
"......"
Yu Hyun's mouth twisted grotesquely at the vulgarity, uttered without batting an eye.
One... thousand taels?
Staring blankly at the absurd sum, he couldn't fathom Okhyeon's intent.
Like probing a bottomless well.
"You're joking, right?"
"Hardly."
"Hahaha, Okhyeon Daozhang, where would I get that kind of money on the spot? If it's truly the tip, I'll bring it next time."
"Then no divination for you."
"......But yesterday you clearly..."
"Hey now, yesterday you met a con artist, today a Daoist? Prices change."
"Even so, a thousand taels out of nowhere?"
"Heh heh, yesterday was yesterday, today is today. Who knows tomorrow in this life? Besides, the seller sets the price— what right have you, the buyer, to haggle?"
"......"
Irritation crept into Yu Hyun's forced smile.
"Then how will I find you?"
"Me? When?"
"Yes?"
He'd definitely said... no, he hadn't.
The conversation broke off because of that Museong or whoever butted in.
As Yu Hyun struggled to smile amiably despite peaking frustration, Okhyeon tsked with a sour face.
"No money? Forget it then. Tsk, thought I'd touch some big cash in my old age..."
"......"
"Tea’s gone anyway. Time to go."
"Yes?"
As Okhyeon shot to his feet, Yu Hyun awkwardly followed.
"You should head off too. As Latent Dragon Captain, you've come seeking those who chase demons to protect the Dao. Our paths diverge, so hurry to your duties."
"Oh, Okhyeon Daozhang!"
Okhyeon turned and began walking away, prompting Yu Hyun's desperate call. He paused, turning back with a radiant smile.
"But remember this too is fate. I posed the riddle, but the path you choose is ever yours."
"......"
"Heh heh, past and future still unseen—truly wondrous. Infinite mercies."
With that, Okhyeon melted into the pilgrims' procession.
Yu Hyun could neither stop him nor ask more.
Choice...
That single word lingered in his mind, circling before settling in a corner.
Standing rooted like a statue in thought, Yu Hyun suddenly jerked his head up.
"Kids."
"Yes?"
The Three Dragons turned puzzled faces toward him.
"Fetch the talisman. The talisman."
"Yes?"
"The one I threw on the ground and stomped earlier."
"......"
"Bring it."
"......"
"Now."
"......Yes!"
At the threat laced with killing intent, the Three Dragons bolted downward.
He had to find it. Sew it into his belt and carry it always.
Okhyeon had said it would keep him healthy, make him rich, and ensure success in all endeavors.
......Even if he hadn't heard the divination.