Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 57: A Stroke of Luck (3)

I sipped the steaming tea, savoring the warmth as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it spread through my body.

"Ah, that’s the stuff."

The fragrance of the tea filled the main hall of Yubulsa Temple.

I never realized that simply being alive to drink tea could be this sweet.

Beside me, Jeok Yeong was also drinking tea. Even though he had clearly taken a bigger shock than I had, his recovery was faster because of his superior internal energy.

"What on earth happened? When we finally arrived, only the Blood Luo Living Jiangshi were dead, and neither of you were anywhere to be found. We thought you had fled elsewhere and spent all our time searching the wrong places," Hye-sim said to me.

Seated in the hall were Hye-sim, Doyeon, and Pung-hyeon. To the right sat the Twin Heroes of Guiyang, Poison Wolf Ibu, the Smiling Face Sword, Sim Geol, and So Gu-chi.

In the center stood Hwang Chu.

I began my explanation slowly. I embellished and dramatized the account of Jeok Yeong and me fighting the Blood Luo Living Jiangshi. Since Jeok Yeong couldn't remember much—and even what he did remember was fragmentary—he had no choice but to believe whatever I said.

"In that desperate moment, our righteous spirits resonated, and we became sworn brothers. We poured out all our ultimate techniques at once. We barely managed to kill the five Blood Luo Living Jiangshi. However, the ground where we stood was unstable due to a landslide. When I performed a firm stomp to execute a technique, the earth suddenly gave way."

"But surely Young Hero Eo or Young Hero Jeok could have easily escaped that?"

Exactly. I had been waiting for that question.

If I answered this poorly, it would only invite suspicion, so I chose my words with deliberate care.

"We couldn't. At that moment, Little Brother Jeok was struck by a Blood Luo Living Jiangshi's attack. He suffered internal injuries and lost consciousness. I had no choice but to hold him to protect him. When we fell, the impact knocked me unconscious as well."

Suddenly, Sim Geol shouted.

"Ah! So you're saying, Unit Leader, that you jumped off the cliff with him just to save Young Hero Jeok!"

So Gu-chi, sitting next to him, chimed in.

"That’s exactly the kind of thing our Unit Leader would do."

As the members of my Demon Subjugation Group added their two cents, the Emei Sect masters began to look at me in a different light.

Even though people around them had been blathering about the 'New Dragon of Sichuan' or the 'Great Small Hero,' they probably hadn't fully believed the rumors seeing how young I looked. But when those closest to me acknowledged it with such sincerity, they couldn't help but believe.

At times like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this, I missed the Seven Heroes. If those seven rascals were here, they would have dramatized this enough to fill an entire martial arts novel. Well, even if it wasn't today, I wasn't worried; by tomorrow, my story would surely spread from their mouths as a heroic epic.

"That is correct. When Little Brother Jeok lost consciousness and began to fall toward the abyss, I threw myself after him to protect him."

Pung-hyeon spoke in admiration.

"Ha! To think Young Hero Eo threw his own body to act as a shield, fearing Young Hero Jeok would be injured by the impact of the fall!"

I didn't respond. Answering 'yes' here would only shatter the audience's imagination. In moments like this, silence was the best way to represent the gravity of the situation.

Everyone seemed to be imagining the scene, nodding their heads with faces full of awe.

"Now, I have something I'm curious about. It seems I was unconscious for quite a while. Seeing as you hadn't found us until now, something must have happened."

When I asked, Doyeon replied.

"We suffered heavy losses during the chaotic battle caused by the Blood Lama's Thunder Cloud Bombs. Fortunately, the rain cleared the energy of the bombs, allowing us to annihilate the Blood Lamas. However, at that time, the Martial Alliance and the Demon Subjugation Group heading toward Yubulsa were ambushed by fleeing Blood Lamas. We went to assist them in the fierce battle before returning. When we couldn't find you two later, we searched the vicinity. The cliff you fell from was hidden by the forest, making it difficult to locate. Even my disciples who went there reported finding nothing, so we ended up searching the wrong areas. The Twin Heroes of Guiyang and the Seven Heroes searched everywhere for you. Fortunately, Young Hero Hwang here knew your general direction, which allowed us to find you."

I looked steadily at the Twin Heroes of Guiyang.

They were truly my subordinates. Thinking about how they had teary eyes after finding me made my heart feel a bit heavy. Who else had ever worried for me or shed tears for me until now?

No one.

Until now, I had to cry for myself and worry for myself. I had certainly chosen my subordinates well.

"What is the situation at Ilguk Sect?"

I wasn't particularly interested, but I needed to know how things were moving. I needed information to determine whether I should keep faking an illness ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to stay here or if I needed to make an escape.

"It seems Ilguk Sect will be the heart of this battle. The Demon Subjugation Groups of Sichuan are gathering there, and the Blood Lamas seem to be congregating there as well."

Pung-hyeon added to Hye-sim's words.

"It appears the secret manual they are looking for is located there."

I turned to Doyeon.

"Have you heard any news from the Sword Palace Squad?"

Seeing Doyeon's face darken, I suspected there was ominous news.

"I heard the Sword Palace Squad suffered casualties of over half their numbers while confronting the Blood Lamas at Ilguk Sect. Unit Leader Ye was also injured in that battle, though fortunately, it wasn't a critical wound."

"Hmm..."

I swallowed a groan. In the end, what I feared had happened. It was likely because the Sword Palace Squad let their fighting spirit get ahead of them and failed to judge the situation properly.

To minimize damage, one must know when to avoid a fight and when to pull back, but the Sword Palace Squad had high morale but lacked the experience for such nuance.

I let out a sigh and asked, "When will the Murim Alliance's Demon Subjugation Group arrive?"

"They should arrive soon."

At those words, Poison Wolf Ibu spat out in a dissatisfied tone, "They'll probably show up once all the Sichuan martial artists are dead."

Many Sichuan warriors had died in this Blood Lama subjugation. Since the Blood Lamas were such high-level masters, the lower-ranked warriors who joined out of righteousness were killed mercilessly.

If it weren't for the Emei Sect, Qingcheng Sect, Tang Clan, and the Nine Demons Chamber stepping in, the balance of the fight would have crumbled. Without them, the Sichuan Murim would have been devastated by the Blood Lamas.

I looked at Hye-sim and said, "Since the situation is as it is, I will stay here a bit longer to recuperate and treat my internal injuries before joining you. Fairy Hye-sim, please head out first."

I intended to use my internal injuries as an excuse to rest more.

"No. We must stay together. The Blood Lamas might stop by here again on their way to Ilguk Sect. If that happens, you would be in danger in your injured state. We will guard this place until you have recovered."

"Hmm..."

I hadn't thought of that. Since a battle had occurred here, the Blood Lamas would almost certainly scout this area at least once. In that case, the priority was to heal my injuries quickly and leave.

"I understand. Then, I will use the Miraculous Healing Medicine I have to circulate my energy. I apologize, but I must ask for your protection."

At my words, Pung-hyeon thumped his chest.

"Do not worry. While you are in meditation, I won't let a soul inside."

I cupped my fists and said, "Thank you, Monk Pung-hyeon."

As I expressed my gratitude, Pung-hyeon scratched his bald head.

"I apologize, but I have something to discuss with my subordinates."

At my request, Hye-sim, Pung-hyeon, and Doyeon left the hall. Poison Wolf Ibu and the Smiling Face Sword also took the hint and stood up.

"Regardless, since our Unit Leader is alive, we must go out and wipe out those Blood Lama bastards again. We will also guard the outside until your meditation is finished."

"No. You all need rest. Leave my protection to the Emei Sect and use this time to replenish your strength, even if just a little. Once we head to Ilguk Sect, we'll be in for another fierce battle."

Ibu nodded at my words.

"Don't you worry, Unit Leader. We'll take care of that ourselves."

Sim Geol and So Gu-chi also cupped their fists and stepped out.

"If anything happens, just call us. We'll come running in a heartbeat."

Even if it was just words, I was grateful. These guys had improved by leaps and bounds, managing to survive this brutal battle without even getting injured. This is why enlightenment is so important for a person.

However, I was worried about what would happen after we reached Ilguk Sect. That place would be the site of a massive battle with the Blood Lamas, and I wasn't sure if we could survive there with our current skills.

Once only Jeok Yeong and the Twin Heroes of Guiyang remained in the hall, I spoke.

"I'd like to introduce Little Brother Jeok, my new sworn brother. He lost his memory during the fight and doesn't remember his past, so please treat him well."

"Do not worry, Lord. If he is your sworn brother, then he is a brother to us as well."

"Thank you, everyone."

I turned my gaze to Jeok Yeong.

"Little Brother Jeok. These are my subordinates. Their loyalty and sense of chivalry are higher than any master's. I have taken them under my wing for that reason, so please look upon them kindly."

Jeok Yeong nodded his head.

"As expected of Brother's subordinates, they all have a sharp light in their eyes."

I didn't know that losing one's memory could change one's personality so much. When I first saw him, he had a very arrogant streak, but after losing his memory, he had become quite humble. Perhaps this was the personality he had before he learned martial arts.

Inherently, as humans become stronger in martial arts, they tend to become arrogant, thinking they have transcended the human realm. Jeok Yeong likely changed as he became a master. But now that he had lost his memory, he might have lost that acquired persona, revealing his original nature.

After introducing Jeok Yeong and the Twin Heroes of Guiyang to each other, I said, "You two may head out now. Little Brother Jeok and I need to treat our internal injuries through meditation."

"Yes, Lord."

Once the Twin Heroes of Guiyang left, I pulled a small box from my robes. It was the Miraculous Healing Medicine Chong Ae-hyeon had given me when I left Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress. I had been keeping it safe with the intention of selling it, but I pulled it out without hesitation for the brother I had suddenly gained.

Truthfully, I felt a moment of conflict, but obtaining a loyal master-level bodyguard is harder than obtaining a good spirit medicine. Since it was ultimately for my own benefit, I decided to invest boldly.

"Little Brother Jeok. This is a medicine for treating internal injuries, and it's quite rare. It will help you heal quickly, so take it and then begin your meditation."

Jeok Yeong's eyes grew moist as I handed him the precious medicine. He was more soft-hearted than I thought.

"Even though I've lost the memory of becoming sworn brothers with you, just seeing how much you care for me makes me realize you truly are my brother."

As he cupped his fists respectfully, I took his hands in mine.

"Little Brother Jeok, what are you saying? What is there to be stingy about between brothers? If you needed it, I would even give my life for you. So, say no more. They say brothers are friends bestowed by heaven. Though we are sworn brothers, I believe you are a friend sent to me from the heavens."

"Brother!"

He was likely overwhelmed with emotion. My motto ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is to make sure people know exactly how much I'm doing for them when I do it. That’s the only way to make them feel a debt of gratitude.

An hour passed quickly during the energy circulation. After taking the medicine from Chong Ae-hyeon and meditating, I felt my internal energy become even more comfortable and warm. Furthermore, the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet aided my meditation, causing vitality to overflow through my body.

While a great deal of internal energy moved through my Upper Dantian, my Middle and Lower Dantians were still no different from ordinary acupoints.

Since my Upper Dantian had transformed into a Circulating Dantian, all the sensory organs in my body had become much more sensitive and clear. Usually, the point where one's senses surpass those of an ordinary person is said to be the first-rate realm with sixty years of internal energy, but I had achieved this state without even being second-rate. This showed just how great a fortuitous encounter it was to turn the Upper Dantian into a Circulating Dantian.

I woke from my meditation before Jeok Yeong. Since I was only performing the Small Heavenly Cycle, I was naturally faster than Jeok Yeong, who was performing a full circulation.