Knight-Errant's Journey
The Apricot Flower Spring Wind Inn that Jeong Gwang's group had taken over lived up to its name of apricot blossoms and spring breezes, exuding a vibrant, flowery charm.
The detached quarters were especially beautiful, and in the rear garden attached to them, a lavish drinking party was in full swing.
Complete with mountains of meat dishes.
"Mmm. Not bad at all."
Jeong Gwang set down his empty cup with a satisfied smile.
Crystal clear color, elegant aroma, smooth finish down the throat.
It was an excellent liquor that left a long, lingering aftertaste of flavor and fragrance.
Baek Seung-mu nodded in agreement.
"You're right, sajae. I've had fenjiu before, but the authentic stuff from its homeland is on another level."
Fenjiu was famously brewed in Apricot Flower Village in Fenyang County, Shanxi Province.
Though the Apricot Flower Spring Wind Inn wasn't in Apricot Flower Village itself, the liquor had been brought straight from there, and its taste was extraordinary.
"Saje, after Yungang Grottoes and Mount Wutai, should we swing by Apricot Flower Village too?"
"Haha, sounds good. We'll loosen our belts and drink to our hearts' content."
The old Baek Seung-mu would have frowned at Jeong Gwang laying out a spread of booze and meat, but the current him was different.
Until recently, their journey had taken them through powerhouses like the Murim Alliance, Iron Blood Manor, and the Hebei Pang Clan.
He'd been tense without realizing it, but this pure, carefree excursion had melted all that away.
And so?
His face was already flushed beet red.
Understanding his junior brother perfectly, Jeong Gwang poured without restraint.
"Come on, drink up."
"Yes, sahyung!"
"Jao too. You've worked hard—eat and drink your fill."
"...Understood. Then... "
Unlike his words, Jao sipped cautiously.
He wasn't Baek Seung-mu.
He'd vowed long ago never to let his guard down around Jeong Gwang, not even for a second.
'How long ago was it that So-chae and Cha said they missed me, and now here we are at a booze-up like this... Can't get complacent, Jao. Stay sharp!'
The sense of danger stirred the anxiety he'd shoved to the back of his mind.
'Haven't sent word to Lian in way too long.'
Sima Lian was the united front of Central Plains unorthodox sects.
As a former member, Jao knew their power all too well.
'For now, they think I'm just missing...'
Once betrayal leaked out, they'd send an extermination squad without fail.
And if it failed, another, and another.
No matter how strong Jeong Gwang was, he couldn't take on Sima Lian alone.
'That pig will definitely come.'
Having served Sang So-un for a time, Jao knew just how cruel and dangerous the man was.
He gritted his teeth.
'Useless thoughts. I've already bet everything on the Jade Jade Dragon!'
Whatever worries or resolutions brewed in his mind, the drinking party dragged on into the night.
Thoroughly plastered, Baek Seung-mu face-planted into the table and passed out.
"Saje, you can't crash already. Wake up."
Even smacking the back of his head did nothing.
Bored now, Jeong Gwang turned to Jao.
Jao flinched, tension coiling tight as he awaited Jeong Gwang's words.
"Jao."
"Yes, Jade Jade Dragon."
"Miss going back to Sima Lian?"
"Gulp. N-no, of course not. Absolutely not."
Startled, Jao waved his hands in denial.
Jeong Gwang chuckled softly and asked plainly.
"Living the life of a knight-errant isn't so bad, right?"
"...Pardon?"
Jao blurted without thinking.
He couldn't fathom when Jeong Gwang had ever acted the hero.
But Jeong Gwang was dead serious.
Compared to his previous life, wasn't he the epitome of a knight-errant now?
He could even be called a great hero without exaggeration.
"Forcing yourself into clothes that don't fit will feel awkward for a while."
Jao screamed inwardly.
'You as a Kunlun Taoist? That's not awkward—that's straight-up absurd!'
Luckily, it stayed in his head, unheard by Jeong Gwang.
"But wear them long enough, and you adapt. Your body starts rejecting anything else."
His Taoist robes were proof.
"You'll get there too, Jao. Definitely."
Finishing, Jeong Gwang smiled contentedly.
He'd offered warm advice to Jao, who'd been struggling lately.
'Yeah, this is how you guide people—with virtue.'
But to Jao, that "virtue" landed like a terrifying threat.
'He's saying he'll etch pain so deep into me I'll never even think of betraying him!'
Jeong Gwang had been dutifully providing antidote except that first time.
But apparently that wasn't enough—he was clearly plotting some new restraint.
Jao flung himself flat on the floor.
"Jade Jade Dragon! Hear me out!"
"Sure. Ah, keep it short."
"The garb I donned upon meeting you has long since become one with me! It shall remain so forever, an unchanging truth—I swear it! To elaborate just a bit more..."
"I said keep it short."
"But that won't convey my full heart..."
"I won't look then. That's enough."
"...Y-you're forgiving me?"
"What's to forgive? You'll keep doing well from now on."
"...Th-thank you!"
Jeong Gwang was immensely pleased.
Jao was overjoyed to the point of tears.
Including the thoroughly drunk Baek Seung-mu, it was a good night for all.
Jeong Gwang and Jao slept soundly.
Come morning, they had someone prepare a hearty breakfast.
For hangover recovery.
Jeong Gwang took a spoonful, tasted it, and nodded.
"Mm. Not bad."
"Indeed. The warm broth soothes the stomach gently, and the subtle umami awakens the palate—perfect for a hangover cure, and..."
Someone cut off Jao's eager chatter.
Not Jeong Gwang, but Baek Seung-mu.
"Great hero, please stop talking. My aching head throbs worse already."
"Oh dear. Sorry. Still got some hangover haze?"
"The haze? I blew that away with the Wine Emptiness Art you taught me, sahyung."
"Then...?"
Baek Seung-mu pointed to his red forehead.
"It's from smashing my head on the table sleeping."
A pointed jab.
Jeong Gwang was his usual self, fine, but you, Jao—why didn't you drag me to my room?
"Plus, sleeping in the garden with the cold night wind chilled me to the bone."
Pure exaggeration, of course.
A seasoned martial artist like him wouldn't catch cold from that.
Even knowing it, Jao had no choice but to apologize.
Via transmission, away from Jeong Gwang.
-Young Master Baek, my apologies. I had no choice.
-What happened?
-The Jade Jade Dragon said he'd handle you himself and told me to go first.
Baek Seung-mu looked dumbfounded when Jeong Gwang spoke up.
"Why transmit? Just ask me."
Baek Seung-mu and Jao gaped.
"...S-surely you can't hear transmissions too?"
"...I-I was just stating facts. No malice, merely clearing Young Master Baek's doubts..."
Ignoring Jao's excuses, Jeong Gwang answered Baek Seung-mu.
"Even I can't hear transmissions."
"...Th-then how did you know?"
"Air and qi shift. It's obvious—why don't you see it?"
"...!"
What was obvious?
Baek Seung-mu and Jao's jaws practically unhinged.
Jeong Gwang elegantly wiped his mouth and eyed Baek Seung-mu.
"Saje. Leaving you outside to sleep had deep meaning. Want me to explain?"
"...N-no. Better not to know."
"Alright then, can't be helped."
Wise choice on Baek Seung-mu's part.
Jeong Gwang had left him there to warm the table until breakfast.
Standing, Jeong Gwang said,
"Alright, let's head out."
"Yes."
They left the inn for the Yungang Grottoes.
It was about fifty li west of Datong County, where the inn was.
No issue for ordinary folk, but martial artists with lightness skills could round-trip in less than an hour.
Yet upon arrival, it seemed they might not make it back even in a day.
Not because there was too much to see.
They'd halted not even at the entrance to Lingyan Temple before the Yungang Grottoes, but at the approach path.
'What’s with all these people?'
The road was clogged solid.
Two gangs blocking pilgrims, locked in standoff.
Weapons drawn, killing intent thick—the atmosphere was downright murderous.
Boring to Jeong Gwang, though.
'Hurry up and fight already. One side's gotta die out for us to pass.'
As if sensing his thought,
A scarred-faced man from the left group bellowed,
"Blood Soul Gang! Your threats won't work! The Datong Sect has guarded Datong County for ages! We won't yield!"
A tattooed-faced man from the right shot back,
"Pah! Rejecting tribute for punishment? This is on you! The elders want a sword dance today!"
The fight erupted.
Jeong Gwang grasped it instantly.
'The territorial dispute Jao mentioned.'
Leaders looked unorthodox both, but closer inspection said otherwise.
'Scar-face's Datong Sect is orthodox; tattoo's Blood Soul Gang is unorthodox. Surprising to find a pure orthodox aura here.'
Shanxi bordered the capital's Hebei to the left, facing Mongolia up north.
Heavy official interference, constant Mongol threat—perpetually unstable.
'No wonder proper sects stay away from the north end. They play down south—why trek here for scraps?'
Just as Jeong Gwang thought.
Shanxi wasn't a Central Plains powerhouse like Henan or Hebei, but far more prosperous than Qinghai's Kunlun.
Thus, notable sects dotted the south.
'Unorthodox favor the Central south anyway.'
Orthodox had Shijiazhuang of the Six Clans Seven Groups Three Manors.
Even the fool who'd pestered Dang Ye-ji at the teahouse belonged to some backwater clan.
All based way down in Taiyuan.
Shanxi's north around Yungang Grottoes? Ripe for low-rent unorthodox gangs.
Like burglars raiding empty houses.
'But a Buddhist-scented Datong Sect? Seems like a reputable lay Buddhist sect, but with those numbers...'
Datong Sect's skills were superior, but Blood Soul Gang had the numbers.
Blood Soul Gang victory inevitable.
Except Datong Sect's pointless valor was bridging the gap despite the odds.
'This'll take forever. Dawn's breaking at this rate.'
One side had to win to clear the road.
Jeong Gwang's brief patience snapped.
-Jao, loosen up a bit. Blood Soul Gang's unorthodox—beat just them.
-Been waiting... As you command!
Jao itched for an outlet anyway.
He'd have pummeled both, but one side was better than none.
His body soared like a bird of prey.
Jeong Gwang transmitted to Baek Seung-mu too.
-Saje, you in?
-Is it okay?
-Of course. Chance for knight-errant deeds. Know who's unorthodox?
Baek Seung-mu had the eye.
Orthodox under siege, pilgrims inconvenienced.
Duty for a righteous man.
-On my way.
-Good luck.
Baek Seung-mu leaped too.
But by the time he landed at his target, Jao's typhoon had already swept through.
"Kwaaak!"
"Wh-who are y—urk!"
Gripping his short sticks fiercely, Jao was a different beast.
Not a word—just battering the Blood Soul Gang.
The more he thrashed, the broader his stoic smile grew.
"Who the hell has such prowess?!"
Scar-face gawked in shock—then realized.
A Blood Soul spear thrust toward his flank.
'Dying like a dog!'
Wracked with self-reproach and rage in despair—
A subtly black-tinted blade sliced the foe with majestic grace.
'What monster now?!'
Whirling, he saw a refined young noble.
Baek Seung-mu with Heuk-u.
"Wh-who are you?"
As Baek Seung-mu opened his mouth, a shout rang from afar.
"Golden Sword Hero Baek Seung-mu!"
"Th-the Golden Sword Hero!"
Scar-face gasped in awe,
Baek Seung-mu flushed crimson.
"Y-you're really the Golden Sword Hero?"
"...Just call me Baek Seung-mu."
"Unbelievable! To meet the one who spares no evil here!"
Baek Seung-mu sighed deeply.
"Hoo... How far have the rumors spread... Please, stop. I beg you."
"They say you're humility incarnate—it's true. Your heroic deeds in Henan and Hebei..."
"Watch out!"
"Eek!"
No time—another Blood Soul blade at scar-face's throat.
But the Golden Sword Hero stood guard.
Heuk-u traced an elegant arc, felling the foe.
Even amid battle, Datong Sect members marveled at the sight.
"As expected of the Golden Sword Hero!"
"The righteous world's hoped-for next gen—well deserved!"
Face burning fit to burst, Baek Seung-mu launched forward.
'End this quick!'
Heuk-u ravaged the field.
"Uwaaak!"
"Kwaaak!"
Jao rampaged, Baek Seung-mu rampaged.
Ssoon, not a Blood Soul thug stood.
Right then!
"A! Mi! Ta! Bul!"
With a mighty lion's roar, a figure landed in the fray.
A gaunt monk in somber robes.
Seeing him, light flickered in Jeong Gwang's eyes.
'Well now. Impressive.'