White Ape Valley's Secret
Pushing open the doors to Taegeuk Hall, a familiar scent of sandalwood incense wafted over him. It was the heart of the Wudang Sect, its most solemn place—but to Cheongun, it was just a familiar, comfortable spot. The elderly man seated beneath the massive taegeuk emblem slowly opened his eyes at his approach. It was Hyeonheo Jin-in, the Wudang Sect Leader and Cheongun's senior brother.
"Sect Leader, you summoned me?"
Cheongun offered a light bow with clasped hands. Hyeonheo clicked his tongue.
"When it's just the two of us, I told you to call me senior brother."
"Haha, yes. Senior brother. I heard it was urgent."
He approached, a faint tension stirring inside him.
"Yes. How are the kids doing these days? Ever since you took in those disciples, I hardly see your face anymore."
Fortunately, his senior brother's demeanor was calm.
'Looks like Mujin's complaint hasn't reached him yet.'
Cheongun swallowed a quiet sigh of relief and played it cool.
"Of course. They're my disciples, after all. Every one of them is so gentle and kind-hearted. They follow their master's teachings diligently and never slack on training."
His senior brother set down his teacup without a word.
"...Gentle and kind-hearted?"
He clicked his tongue again, briefly.
"You fool! Which gentle soul sneaks into the sect's elixir storage in the dead of night, wearing a mask, and raids it clean?!"
"......Pardon?"
His sweet, kind disciples raiding the elixir storage? He could hardly believe his ears.
"A few days ago, that gentle eldest disciple of yours slipped into the storage and made off with a handful of toxic herbs and medicines. Her stealth was impressive, I'll give her that—but she couldn't fool my eyes."
A memory flashed through his mind. A few days back, Seorin had brewed him some medicinal tea with utmost care, claiming it would heal his internal injuries. It had worked wonders, so he'd wondered where she'd gotten such rare ingredients.
'Aigoo, you rascal... Your devotion to your master touches my heart, but of all places, the storage?'
He turned his head slightly, averting his gaze with an awkward laugh.
"Hahaha... It must've been their clumsy way of nourishing their worthless master. The kids are still young and don't know the sect rules well. Please be lenient, senior brother."
"Tsk tsk. The great Cheongun has turned into a disciple-doting fool. Since you've been shielding them so much, I pretended not to notice out of sympathy."
His senior brother shook his head in exasperation, though a smile tugged at his lips. He set down his teacup and got to the point.
"Still, breaking sect rules is breaking them, no matter the filial intent. If I let it slide, the other disciples will complain. Give the kids a light punishment."
"What kind?"
"Send them to the entrance of White Ape Valley in the back mountains of Wudang and have them gather a basket each of medicinal herbs for the sect. A bit of dirt and labor will make them reflect."
Cheongun inwardly cheered. It was hardly a punishment—more like a spring picnic. His disciples had been pushing themselves too hard with training lately, wearing down body and mind. What better rest than fresh mountain air and digging in the earth?
"Thank you for your deep consideration, senior brother. I'll send them right away."
His steps were light as he left Taegeuk Hall.
The mountain path leading to the back of Wudang Mountain. Three girls climbed the trail, each with a bamboo basket strapped to her back. At the entrance to the damp, shadowy valley where even sunlight barely penetrated, Seorin halted her steps.
Only after confirming several times that their master's presence was completely out of range did she speak.
"A light punishment like a spring picnic for us? Ridiculous."
No one dared open their mouth rashly. Chohee and Hwaran stiffened, glancing at each other warily.
"He's testing if we're useful tools worth keeping alive—or trash to discard right away. There must be some criterion hidden somewhere in this valley."
"...Like what?"
"I don't know. Not yet."
Unable to answer Chohee properly, Seorin gripped the strap of her bamboo basket irritably, glaring into the valley beyond.
"But one thing's clear: it's not some errand where we fill a basket with random herbs and call it done. Search the valley thoroughly. We'll decide once we find something unusual."
The three stepped into White Ape Valley. It was vast, with clusters of herbs scattered among the moisture-laden rocks. Licorice, angelica, yam—common staples in the Wudang apothecary. Seorin gathered them into her basket, but her senses were attuned to every surrounding presence. Chohee and Hwaran pretended to forage while scanning every corner.
When their baskets were half-full, the fog thickened and the light dimmed. Chohee froze.
"...You feel it?"
Seorin and Hwaran's feet stopped in unison. Amid the earthy scent, an alien energy seeped in. A strangely sweet stench—like rusted iron mixed with rotting flowers—accompanied a chilling sensation that prickled down their spines.
"This smell... I've sensed it before."
Hwaran's face paled.
"Th-this stench..."
To Hwaran, it was an unforgettable odor. In her past life, the gu poison workshop of the Blood Cult she'd raided with her squad. That very foul reek that had assaulted her nose in the dank underground chamber.
"Chilheol Gyogeuncho."
The horrific name slipped through Hwaran's lips.
"The key ingredient the Blood Cult uses for gu poison."
Chohee and Seorin's breaths grew ragged.
"Then... that's why that monster sent us here..."
"Exactly."
Now it all made sense. In their past lives, the Wudang Sect had burned the entire White Ape Valley to ashes over several days and nights. It had been called a plague at the time, but right after, Blood Cult gu poison incidents had plummeted. The valley harbored a core ingredient for gu poison. And that monster had known from the start.
Hwaran clenched her fists.
"...Should we burn it all now? Dry up the seeds—"
"No."
Seorin cut her off.
"He sent us to find this. If we can't, or if we burn it, or come back empty-handed... he'll deem us useless. What comes next is obvious."
A brief silence fell.
Finally, Chohee ground her teeth.
"So what do we do? Obediently harvest it and offer it up?"
"Yes. Offer it up. But not half-assed—do it perfectly."
"......What?"
"Chilheol Gyogeuncho starts dispersing its toxin the moment it's pulled from the soil. If we bring it fresh, he'll smile outwardly but think inside, 'Is this all they can do?'"
Seorin stepped forward.
"We'll refine it right here. Condense the toxin perfectly. Enough to make that monster impressed."
"You're insane?!"
Chohee hissed under her breath.
"If gu poison spreads faster than in our past lives—"
"Do we have the luxury to worry about the future? Better to prove we're useful tools than play normal and die hiding it. That's how we buy time."
Hwaran and Chohee fell silent. They couldn't argue.
As Seorin said, before that monster, proving utility was their only option.
They followed the scent deeper into the fog. The underbrush grew tangled, until finally, beyond the mist, a bizarre cluster emerged. Veins like blood vessels pulsing vivid red through the leaves. Soil stained dark crimson. Only that toxic herb thrived, exuding a sinister aura.
Chilheol Gyogeuncho.
The three halted.
"......Found it."
As Seorin set down her basket and moved toward the herb—
Kieeeek—!!
A shrill cry pierced the air, and massive shadows poured from the fog. White fur, blood-red eyes. Five or six enormous monkeys surrounded them from all sides. Muscled, ferocious beasts far from ordinary primates. The valley's longtime residents, the spirit beasts known as the White Apes.
"...Part of the test too?"
"Doesn't look like a welcome party either way?!"
With Seorin's shout, the largest one bared its fangs and charged. Her sword traced the path of Cheongpung Geombeop—then shifted into a lethal strike from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
They had to survive and catch his eye, no matter what.
And someday, plunge a blade into that heart.
'They should be arriving at White Ape Valley by now.'
White Ape Valley was one of the sunniest, herb-rich spots in Wudang's back mountains. Common medicinals like licorice and angelica grew in abundance, making it a picnic spot for novice Dao attendants to gather them. Plus, a troop of white-furred monkeys lived there—they followed people readily, tossing fruits and performing tricks. Cheongun visited now and then to play with them.
'A good romp around, and their moods will lift in no time.'
Undoubtedly, herb-gathering was secondary; they'd be frolicking with the monkeys. He could already picture their bright faces.