Chapter 154
Chapter 154
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: S3. Murim Journey (武林紀行) -2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The group was walking side by side down the streets of Jebu Castle.
One of the most telltale ways to spot an outsider was to check if their eyes were wide open, gawking at everything around them.
In that sense, Cheonghwi was unmistakably an outsider no matter how you looked at him. He was busy looking around in all directions. But the reason was a little different.
Having briefly lived as a guest of the Nangong family, Cheonghwi was already accustomed to the architectural styles of the Central Plains. There was nothing particularly surprising anymore.
This was simply the gaze of excitement and exploration.
Heavenly Mirror Lake.
He had to find an underwater cave at the bottom of a lake he only knew by name. Was the spirit herb still safely there? Was someone digging it up right at this moment? Such mild anxieties plagued him.
And the thrill of someone setting out on their first real adventure after establishing their own purpose.
After wandering aimlessly since being betrayed by his brother, he was finally moving forward with a clear goal. It felt like the hazy veil over his eyes had lifted, leaving his body restless with anticipation.
Nangong Myeong, too, was thrilled and bubbly about this unexpected journey he hadn't anticipated.
On the other hand, Beggars' Sect Leader Hee Yeonghyeon was utterly composed. It wasn't a forced calm but one that naturally emanated from her.
Perhaps she had lived here for a long time.
There was another clue. Thanks to her, they had entered Jebu Castle without issue. The way she casually chatted with the guards and got them through suggested she had connections with them.
Hee Yeonghyeon led the way, dressed like a local housewife, but her gait carried a subtle allure.
It was the swaying walk of a courtesan, hips swinging left and right.
Nangong Seung-ah quietly covered Nangong Myeong's eyes.
"...Sis, I can't see!"
"Something must've gotten in your eyes. Just stay still."
Cheonghwi spoke to Hee Yeonghyeon.
"Thanks to you, we made it. I thought we might not get into the castle... One word from you, and the gates opened wide."
Hee Yeonghyeon's eyelids twitched faintly.
"I only helped because of my connections. And don't call me 'little sister'."
"What brings you to Jebu Castle, then?"
"No reason I should tell you... but let's just say I'm here for an investigation. If you're going to leech off the shadows of the Hao Gate, you've got to do the grunt work, right?"
The Beggars' Sect was currently under the Hao Gate for survival—a sort of employer-employee relationship. It seemed the Hao Gate had assigned her this task.
Nangong Seung-ah, as if piecing something together, thought for a moment before asking casually.
"The guard mentioned some disappearances in the castle earlier, right?"
"That's why they're not letting in suspicious folks. Is this related?"
"...Yes. But you have your business, and I have mine. Let's not pry unnecessarily. Isn't getting you inside enough?"
Hee Yeonghyeon replied curtly, waving her hand as if to say goodbye. Cheonghwi nodded. He did have his own tasks, after all.
Unless he finished healing Nangong Myeong's dantian and had time to spare, he had no room to get involved. Still, he left the door open.
He had to return her Striking Dog Staff Method, after all.
"If you need an extra hand, find me. Once my business is done, I'll have time and can help."
"Even empty words are appreciated. In return, my advice: stay out of trouble for a while. Don't tangle with black path warriors or meddle where you shouldn't. See you."
Cheonghwi watched Hee Yeonghyeon's retreating figure. Sway, sway. There was a captivating magic to her alluring movements that drew the eye.
He worried she might get caught in some needless scuffle, but she seemed like a considerable expert, so it was probably unnecessary concern.
Once she vanished into an alley, Nangong Seung-ah finally uncovered Nangong Myeong's eyes. Myeong looked curious about the reason for the censorship.
"Did the Sect Leader use some hypnotic technique...?"
"Something like that. First, let's find lodging, wash up, then head to Heavenly Mirror Lake. That's where I'll heal Nangong Myeong's body."
"A ritual borrowing the power of water?! I've heard invisible forces flow through water and earth... Or maybe you're going to ask the immortal who lives in Heavenly Mirror Lake?!"
"Could be offering prayers to the heavens. Zhuge Liang prayed to extend his life, didn't he?"
"......"
The Nangong siblings were brimming with expectations of Taoist flair, leaving Cheonghwi a bit flustered. He was just going to grab the spirit herb from an underwater cave...
But with their eyes sparkling with anticipation, he couldn't shatter the romance with plain facts. Cheonghwi racked his brain. He'd have to come up with some proper performance before reaching the lake.
The three washed up cleanly and headed back out into the streets.
Cheonghwi alone might have gotten lost, but with the Nangong siblings, that worry was gone—a stroke of luck. Passing buildings and alleys, they headed toward the scent of water.
Their view opened up to reveal a vast lake.
Several pavilions lined the shore, and plenty of people were enjoying boat rides. Patrol guards were also visible.
Nangong Myeong, overwhelmed by the natural beauty, introduced it excitedly.
"This is Heavenly Mirror Lake, Master Cheonghwi! The water is so clear and still, it's like a mirror reflecting the sky—hence the name. Look, couples enjoying the scenery and fishermen too!"
"...I thought lakes were supposed to be, y'know, a bit smaller."
"Pardon? Haha! This is what qualifies as a lake. Anything smaller would just be a pond."
"......"
Meanwhile, Cheonghwi was overwhelmed by the lake's size, a bead of cold sweat trickling down. This was no time to laugh and enjoy.
It was much larger than expected. Vastly so.
Finding an underwater cave in this enormous lake with vague clues sounded dizzying.
His beggar master had said... He took a boat to the center for fishing, got frustrated with no bites, stripped down, and dove in. While swinging his staff to catch fish, he spotted a hole at the lake bottom.
There was a swallow-shaped rock nearby, easy to remember.
At first, he'd thought groping around the center would be quick. But seeing the lake firsthand, even that was no easy task.
On the bright side, the odds of someone else finding the spirit herb first were slim. He'd have to take comfort in that.
"Hmm... Let me use my arts to locate the treasure here."
"Treasure?! You mean there's treasure hidden in the lake, Master Cheonghwi?!"
"Indeed. I, uh... gazed at the moon and read the flow of... mana. From the stars' positions and cloud shapes... Yes, astrologically, the heavens decree treasure in Heavenly Mirror Lake."
"Wow!"
Nangong Myeong was ecstatic, but Nangong Seung-ah's expression turned subtle at the awkward performance.
Cheonghwi pulled out a light scroll from his robes—a common dungeon tool that floated a light source overhead when torn.
"Light... shine upon the treasure's location!"
Riiip—!
Fwaaah!
A glowing orb bobbed up. Cheonghwi closed his eyes, pretending to chant. When the scroll's duration ended, he spoke.
"...At the lake bottom of Heavenly Mirror Lake, near a swallow-shaped rock, there's a cave. Inside is a spirit herb aged about thirty years. Nangong Myeong taking it should heal his dantian."
"Incredible arts! You peered into the depths from right here, Master Cheonghwi! Is that the legendary Heavenly Eye? Or—"
"...Master Cheonghwi, did you really use arts?"
"Y-yes. Anyway, that's not the point. We need to search underwater."
Now it was time for legwork.
Swimming from shore to center wasn't efficient; renting a boat made sense. Cheonghwi scanned around for one.
Nangong Seung-ah pointed to a dock.
"They seem to rent boats from that building, Cheonghwi."
"Right. Let's head there... Why'd you take 'Taoist' out?"
With Nangong Myeong distracted, Nangong Seung-ah whispered.
"You're using arts like reading a manual. The light is cool and all... but you're so clumsy at it. Be honest with me. You're not a real Taoist, are you?"
"...I wasn't trying to pretend. People called me that, so I didn't correct them. Keep it secret from Myeong, please."
"......"
No need to deceive, but a child's dreams deserved protecting. He was so excited about the "arts".
With the money pouch the siblings brought, renting a boat was no issue.
The group huddled on a small boat, rowing out. First-timers or not, three martial artists handled the oars fine.
"Ow... damn!"
"Sis, I think rowing in curves might make it smoother..."
Clumsy strokes, but brute force pushed the boat forward anyway.
Swish.
Ripples spread across the calm surface as they reached the center. Cheonghwi glanced around cautiously. Repeated suspicious dives would draw eyes.
Fortunately, no one seemed interested. Cheonghwi stripped off his outer robes, preparing to scout.
"I'll pinpoint the cave. Then we three enter together."
"If it has something to heal Myeong inside, can't you just fetch it? Why dive with us?"
"I hear prime spirit herbs must be consumed fresh from the ground to be fully effective."
"So the treasure's a spirit herb... Wait, Master Cheonghwi. Then I think you should take it, not me...!"
Nangong Myeong grabbed the diving Cheonghwi.
"You pursue martial arts, and inner power matters to Taoists too. Rather than waste it on my ruined dantian..."
"Don't say that."
"But it's strange, Master Cheonghwi. You've saved my life twice, and now you're offering a precious spirit herb. I'm confused. Such heavy kindness..."
Cheonghwi smiled faintly.
A serendipitous encounter for a shattered dantian. Prioritizing righteousness over self-preservation—how commendable.
Nangong Myeong was a good kid. With his talent, proper upbringing would make him a great hero.
With such character, he'd remember Cheonghwi's help and pay it forward.
Cheonghwi thought of a farmer sowing seeds.
Nurtured well, the fruits would feed many, spreading seeds further into the future.
Understood.
"I've found my answer. Hee Yeonghyeon needs the Striking Dog Staff Method."
"......?"
"Don't mind, Nangong Myeong. This isn't pure altruism. It's all to ease my own heart..."
Even without grand justice, Cheonghwi desperately wanted him healed.
He didn't want another Envers Redburn in this world. No one should feel the sorrow he endured.
Changing Nangong Myeong's fate might comfort and affirm his own.
And... wouldn't this feel great? Like the beggar in the Tower of Trials taking Envers as disciple despite chains.
Cheonghwi spoke softly but firmly.
"Take what's given first. Get well quick and prosper your clan with your brother, right?"
"...Then, shamelessly... I accept. Master Cheonghwi. But I'll repay this grace someday!"
"I'll be waiting."
Splash—!
Cheonghwi gently freed Nangong Myeong's hand, tapped his head, and dove. He cleaved the blue waters, descending.
Bubbles rose. Watching, Nangong Myeong clenched his fist in resolve.
He didn't know what Cheonghwi saw in him. The fleeting regret in his eyes. Why cherish a near-stranger so.
But the jianghu was clear on grace and grudges.
He'd repay in kind. Definitely.
Cheonghwi found the underwater cave faster than expected. Three dives sufficed.
The entrance was beside a frog-like rock.
"......"
Swallow-shaped rock, my ass.
He'd skipped it earlier thinking it wasn't swallow-like, but checked just in case—and there it was. A strange sense of betrayal.
Carefully clearing stones, he widened the entrance. Peeking in, it fit two abreast.
The issue was breathing.
The beggar found the herb at the end, so there'd be an air pocket. But reaching it was tricky. Lung capacity was tight.
And dragging Nangong Myeong along? The kid's undeveloped body meant poor capacity.
No air canister, so speed up swimming.
Ways to accelerate underwater...
Cheonghwi surfaced, consulting the siblings.
Nangong Myeong suggested a sealed iron canister full of air, but time to make it and rumors spreading nixed the idea.
Asking a smithy for an oxygen tank screamed lake exploration.
Nangong Seung-ah gazed at the lake, then said.
"Want to learn Thousand Catties Drop?"
"What's that?"
"A technique pressing the body with inner power. For quick landings from air or stabilizing center of gravity."
"Thousand catties... about 600kg, huh."
Shudder.
Suddenly, Cheonghwi felt a ominous premonition like lightning from clear sky, scanning around.
"......??"
"What's wrong suddenly?"
"Nothing..."
Some words invite disaster. Cheonghwi shut up and learned Thousand Catties Drop silently.
"Hup!"
Felt like the sky pressing down.
It generated propulsion with inner power, akin to Explosive Fist. But sustained gently.
His faulty mana engine struggled with finesse—ten catties, then hundred—but usable.
Thousand Catties Drop sped dives noticeably.
With air to spare, he reached bottom, swam into the cave. Twisting path led to an underground cavern.
"Huuuuh, haa..."
Breathing fine. Airflow present.
Dark; Cheonghwi tore a glow scroll. Damp but worked.
Fwaaah—!
Orbs floated.
Then Cheonghwi saw eyelids as big as him.
And the scales on a massive body filling the cavern.
"......!!"
He frantically waved to dispel the light, but without mana materialization, no chance.
"......"
Frozen, breathless.
After eternal ten seconds, confirming the huge imugi's eyelids still shut, he sighed silently in relief.
Long underground life? Even this light on closed lids didn't stir it—light sense degenerated.
Not dead; steady breaths from nostrils. Asleep, alive.
And...
Cheonghwi spotted a small flower glowing blue.
Mana palpable from afar. Undeniable spirit herb.
Swallowing, he quietly retreated to the water passage. Herb confirmed; now deal with the imugi.
"...So you're saying we need to research slaying the imugi, and you want me to mimic a mud dragon and attack? On all fours?"
"Tail here too."
"Are you insane?"
The imugi subjugation battle had begun.