I Became the Protagonist Who Monopolizes Fortuitous Encounters in a Martial Arts Novel Chapter 19: The Forbidden Men's Zone (1)
“Huff! Heave!”
I was sprinting nonstop, relying on the second-rate lightness skill I’d picked up at Cheon Mu Hak Gwan. The closest spirit herb site to the academy happened to be in Henan Province, so if I wanted to make it back within my leave period, I had no time to waste.
Henan Province is usually synonymous with Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, but my destination isn’t there.
Most folks think of Mount Song’s Shaolin when Henan comes up. But I was headed the opposite way, to Geum Mountain—the Forbidden Mountain.
Just as Shaolin made Mount Song famous, Geum Mountain was home to a mysterious sect called the Moon Women Palace.
The Moon Women Palace was an all-female sect, not part of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, but with potential to rival them.
This Moon Women Palace is like the Amazons—an all-women sect. They’re known for martial arts empowered by potent moonlight essence, and they’ve got plenty of beauties too.
The Moon Women Palace was a creation of my Maternal Uncle himself. Geum Mountain in Henan was a sacred place infused with moonlight essence, so as its creator, he’d planted a modest fortuitous encounter there.
At the peak of Geum Mountain, in a hidden cave, lie two spirit herbs of absolute efficacy. They’re the pinnacle across the entire Seven Falls, Eight Rises: The Invincible Fist King world—one boosts inner energy and even enhances your looks, the legendary Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng. The other is the Moon Spirit Grass, said to be the ultimate herb for women.
In the original story, around Year 5 of the Jincheon Era, these herbs leaked out, drawing intruders to the Moon Women Palace—the forbidden men’s sanctuary and enigmatic sect. They raided the place, stripping it bare, so I had to grab them first.
Of those, I’m gunning straight for the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng.
Moon Spirit Grass wasn’t bad, but it suited women’s bodies better than men’s, so the top-tier Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng took priority. Its effects were so extraordinary that finding anything comparable was impossible.
“I have to claim it!”
That’s why I’d been racing toward Geum Mountain for days without rest. Plus, this was forbidden territory for men, so I had to slip in under cover of deep night, avoiding the Moon Women Palace patrols.
Luckily, I know exactly where the cave hides the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng and the other herbs.
What made me even luckier? The cave was on Manseol Peak, directly opposite Wolnyeo Peak where the Moon Women Palace sat. Sneak past the guards at the base, reach Manseol Peak, and I’d avoid detection.
“Hoo.”
After what felt like an eternity of trials, I finally reached Geum Mountain. As rumored, every entrance was guarded by Moon Women Palace warriors.
The rumors were spot on.
Their fighters were all highly skilled, and regardless of age, renowned for their beauty. The guards at the gates proved it—they were stunning, enough to dazzle my eyes.
Damn, not the time.
It was the dead of predawn. To stick to the plan, I had to hurry. They guarded every path up the mountain, but I had a way around it.
Even in their tight security, there’s one spot the Moon Women Palace doesn’t guard.
That was the Snow Ice Wall area—the steepest, most treacherous cliff on Geum Mountain.
Why didn’t they guard it? Simple. First, it was so sheer and rugged that even seasoned herbalists or top-tier lightness experts couldn’t approach. Second, it wasn’t just a cliff—it was solid ice, jacking up the difficulty to impossible.
A natural fortress, basically.
“But I’ve got a plan for that.”
I grinned and located the Snow Ice Wall, unguarded even by the Moon Women Palace. It lived up to the hype—bleak, vast, jaw-dropping—but I had my method.
And that method was…
Taeryeok Cheolgang Gong!
I’d use the Taeryeok Cheolgang Gong, the ultimate external art that hardened the entire body.
Thud!
I jammed my reinforced fingers into the ice wall and began the slow climb. I had some rock-climbing know-how from my old life, and the art’s strengthening ignored cold and heat pain, rendering the wall’s perils moot.
With Taeryeok Cheolgang Gong, it’s like scaling soft dirt.
Toes or even fists in a pinch—I could rest as needed. The difficulty was low for me.
Thanks again, Gabul.
I sent silent thanks to my versatile mentor and climbed relentlessly before dawn broke.
“Made it.”
After grueling effort, I conquered the Snow Ice Wall and infiltrated the forbidden men’s zone.
Still, no room for complacency.
Deep in Geum Mountain meant higher odds of running into Moon Women Palace members, so I stayed vigilant. Hyper-focused, I spotted a fork—one path led to Manseol Peak.
Manseol Peak was rarely visited, even by them—maybe once or twice a year for the Heaven Dao Ritual, offering to the heavens.
“Heh heh heh.”
Sure enough, no footprints here, unlike elsewhere. I breathed a sigh of relief. Halfway there.
Now just find the hidden cave.
I knew where it was. The spirit herb route’s secret cave lay where moonlight soaked in best—ideal for the Snow Ginseng and Moon Spirit Grass—right between their ritual site and elsewhere.
“Looks like a sheer mini-gorge from outside, but no way.”
Whoosh!
I leaped fearlessly toward what appeared a thousand-foot drop. Certainty killed the fear; even if wrong, Taeryeok Cheolgang Gong would save me.
Swish!
Falling, I spotted a small hollow beside me—barely big enough for one person.
This is it!
Convinced, I dove in, and nailed it. Tiny pit from outside, but inside?
I slid down smooth and deep!
“Haha!”
I laughed in pure joy. No manmade tunnel—this was nature’s work, with a slight ceiling gap like for stargazing.
Moonlight filters through here…
…infusing the ginseng and grass with lunar essence and chill. Charting the moonlight, I explored the surprisingly spacious natural cave and spotted a crystalline glow.
Found it!
Legend says aged snow or mountain ginsengs take childlike forms. Before me loomed a massive one, radiating pure white beauty like a nude statue.
Its presence was overwhelming—like a shard of the moon had fallen into the cave.
I wanted to whoop like a madman, but restrained myself lest Moon Women Palace warriors hear.
I clenched both fists, roaring silently in triumph.
Finally, the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng was mine. The thrill doubled since everything went per plan.
In the original, Year 5 Jincheon Era saw a scramble for it, reducing Moon Women Palace to ruins.
Ironically, those prime herbs brought their doom.
Even for their sake, I had to take it. And one more thing.
If the Snow Ginseng is the moon, there should be a star beside it. Let’s say a small Moon Spirit Grass grows there too.
I recalled Maternal Uncle’s words. Unlike the glaring ginseng, the grass had a subtle sheen, easy to miss—which was why it barely appeared in the original.
But it couldn’t fool me.
There!
Around the massive ginseng, faint misty specks—barely visible unless you looked hard. That was the Moon Spirit Grass site.
Swish, swish!
I harvested all the grass first. The ginseng overshadowed it, but each root was priceless, the ultimate tonic for female heroes.
Best stock up for the future.
The more, the better. If not me, someone else would take it—or it’d waste away.
Eight roots total. I packed them neatly into my prepared bundle.
“Now… the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng.”
My voice trembled as I turned to it. Eight grass roots wouldn’t match this one prize. For martial artists, it was beyond any treasure or wealth.
Finally, Cheon Myeong gets to consume something like this.
In the story, Baek Muhon hogged these; protagonist Cheon Myeong scraped by with mid-tier stuff after endless toil.
Slide!
I handled every fine root and node with utmost care. Ten thousand years of moon and ice essence—nothing to waste.
“Thank you.”
Fully excavated, I bowed deeply before it. Expert ginseng diggers shout thrice in thanks to heaven and earth upon harvesting, bowing to spirits. No shouting here, but I showed my respect.
Time to consume it?
Digging and harvesting done—now ingest right here. Some might question eating such a treasure in a wild spot, but fools. Spirit herbs like this demand immediate consumption.
Snow and mountain ginsengs mimic human forms—legends say they sprout legs and flee if delayed. Plus, this undiscovered natural cave was the safest spot imaginable.
“At last…”
Preparations complete, I reached out with shaking hands and lifted the massive Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng.