Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: The Moon Behind the Clouds
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A wide sandy riverbank stretched out before them.
"Kya!"
This scorching taste, like something searing away inside.
The fiery kick that kids just couldn't handle.
The thrilling burn sliding down his throat.
The subtle aroma spreading gently.
This was why people drank the liquors of the Central Plains.
Han Ibi wiped his lips with his sleeve and handed the bottle back to Gei Pal-muk.
Gei Pal-muk, who had been munching on flower rolls with wet smacking sounds, spoke up.
"If you'd just said you were from the Qingcheng Sect from the start, it would've been so much simpler... You're a cheeky young fellow, aren't you? Oh dear."
Gei Pal-muk tapped his forehead lightly for a moment before continuing.
"Come to think of it, I was so busy stuffing my face that I didn't even ask your name. I'm Gei Pal-muk."
"I remembered it from when you shouted it loudly at the inn earlier."
"Oh ho! Is that so? You do have an eye for people. Haha! And what might your name be?"
"I'm Jong Ri-mae."
Suddenly, Gei Pal-muk's jaw paused mid-chew.
"What... did you say?"
"Jong Ri-mae."
Gei Pal-muk looked somewhat surprised.
He said,
"Ever since I started handling information operations for the Beggar Clan Sunyang Branch here..."
"Ah, so Hero Gei was in the intelligence business originally. That suits you perfectly."
"Ahaha! That's right, that's right. The Beggar Clan usually entrusts branch intelligence to their very best. Haha... But oh, that's not the point right now. Where was I?"
"You said you'd been managing intelligence for the Sunyang Branch..."
"Ah, yes. Ever since I've been handling intelligence here, I haven't heard a peep about the Qingcheng Sect."
"Looks like the Qingcheng Sect isn't very popular."
Gei Pal-muk waved his hand emphatically.
"The Qingcheng Sect did have its days of glory in the past. Of course, that was when I was just a kid. Anyway, news about them only pops up occasionally, like with major events such as a change in sect leader. For example, the recent one..."
"You're talking about Sect Leader Bok, right?"
"Ah, yes, exactly that. Electing a woman as sect leader..."
"That's not something pleasant to hear. Sect Leader Bok was properly selected through the legitimate process."
"Oh, I'm not arguing about that. Anyway..."
Gei Pal-muk stared piercingly at Han Ibi for a moment before saying,
"...I finally heard some really interesting news after such a long time."
Han Ibi had a feeling he knew what was coming.
"What might that be?"
"Ehehe. It's about you."
"About me?"
"Heh heh. No need to play dumb. Word is spreading far and wide that the Qingcheng Sect produced one of the Little Five Dragons."
"It's not just a rumor—it's fact."
"And they say the whole process was a total mess."
"Rumors tend to get exaggerated, don't they?"
"Haha. Whatever, works for me. But meeting a promising young star of the martial world like this does make me a bit curious."
Han Ibi shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, you never really know about life until you've lived it."
"Heh heh. Humble to boot, are we?"
"Not really. I just don't get excited easily."
Gei Pal-muk rubbed his palms together.
"Anyway, do your best. The Murim Alliance is no different from a dirty political arena... Whether Little Five Dragons or Great Five Dragons, what really matters in the end is your backing."
"That's not unique to the Murim Alliance."
"Ehehe. You get it. And for a young disciple from a nothing sect like Qingcheng to snag a spot as a Little Martial Hero..."
Gei Pal-muk raised one hand and leaned in as if whispering.
"...I can judge your skills without even seeing them. So let's get along. The road ahead will be rough..."
Han Ibi cupped his hands in thanks.
"Thank you. You're too kind."
"Oh, by the way... where'd you get that Dog Rice Bowl?"
Han Ibi swallowed a wry smile.
He knew the clan leader's divine treasure was the Dog-Beating Stick, but to think the bowl they'd handed over as something precious was literally called the "Dog Rice Bowl"...
Han Ibi said,
"I just happened to run into the Anpyeong Branch Leader."
Gei Pal-muk said,
"Ah, you mean Sa Pyeong-cheon."
"That's right."
"Hmm... He's..."
As Gei Pal-muk seemed hesitant, Han Ibi added,
"He's the clan leader's cousin."
"You already knew that, huh."
"Yes. No reason to hide it."
"True enough."
Han Ibi leaned in closer.
"So now that you've confirmed my identity, care to tell me now?"
"Tell you what?"
"About the current state of affairs in the Murim Alliance and the latest on the Wudang Sect. I'm attending the upcoming Murim General Assembly, after all."
Gei Pal-muk looked extremely intrigued.
Gei Pal-muk's parting words lingered in his mind.
"The Dog Rice Bowl may not match the Dog-Beating Stick, but it's one of the Beggar Clan's divine treasures. There are only twelve in total, and you needed the clan leader's permission before it could be gifted. It'll be useful if you use it well."
Huh? That valuable?
That would mean the Beggar Clan leader held some goodwill toward him... But why?
Han Ibi pondered for a bit, then shrugged it off.
'Eh, no point overthinking it. Might as well keep pushing forward.'
Nothing else noteworthy happened after that.
By day, Han Ibi traveled; by night, he rested at inns and focused on his martial arts training.
And on the tenth day.
"We've finally arrived!"
A stone stele inscribed with elegant calligraphy stood at the foot of Wudang Mountain.
Beside it, a young Taoist kicked idly at pebbles.
Hearing the horse's hooves, he turned to look at Han Ibi.
The Taoist said,
"How may I help you?"
Han Ibi replied,
"I'm here to attend the Murim General Assembly."
The Taoist gave him an odd look, scanning him up and down.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes."
The Taoist looked even more puzzled.
"What sect are you from?"
"Yes. I'm from the Qingcheng Sect."
"Qingcheng Sect?"
"Yes. My name is Jong Ri-mae. I've been dispatched as the Qingcheng Sect's representative."
Only then did the Taoist exclaim "Ah!"
"You're that young hero..."
Why was everyone reacting like this?
Anyway, the young Taoist grew more polite.
"The terrain gets rough from here; horses can't pass. Tie it up over there, and we'll return it when you leave."
Han Ibi said,
"Got it."
He hopped down lightly.
At that moment, a sharp 'ding-ding-ding' rang in his ears.
Main Quest Occurred: Restore the Qingcheng Sect's standing among the Nine Great Sects.
📍 Reward 1: Internal Power +10, Strength +15, Agility +15, Wisdom +30, Charm +40, Reputation +30
📍 Reward 2: There is an unknown reward.
This thing really...
Takes it way too far sometimes...
"I must've gotten here too early from rushing..."
Han Ibi stretched in the guest quarters assigned to him, muttering to himself.
After a light dinner, night had already fallen.
The preliminary assembly was two days away.
Guests from other sects hadn't arrived yet, it seemed.
'Getting back into the Nine Great Sects... Does that mean kicking someone else out? And if so, how on earth?'
Han Ibi's head throbbed.
That was when he heard footsteps outside the door.
"Are you in?"
A voice that sounded oddly familiar.
Han Ibi answered,
"Come in."
The door opened, and a man entered.
Han Ibi grinned.
"Didn't expect to see you again so soon. How have you been?"
The Wudang Sect's Little Five Dragons Red Dragon.
Yang Je stood at the door.
He smiled faintly too.
"I've been well, nothing out of the ordinary. Working with the Murim Alliance base means we'll cross paths often like this. I figured you might show up, but I never imagined you'd come alone."
Han Ibi lowered his voice.
"You know how the two sect leaders have been getting along lately..."
Yang Je nodded.
"Fair point."
"So why at this hour? It's not just a courtesy call."
Yang Je said,
"As expected, your insight is sharp. The sect leader wishes to meet you privately. This has nothing to do with the official events."
"Hmm... Probably related to what I mentioned earlier about the sect leaders..."
Yang Je quickly cut him off.
"I don't know the details. I'm just following orders."
Han Ibi said,
"Understood. Please lead the way."
Yang Je nodded and stepped outside.
Han Ibi followed silently.
He led them out of the guest quarters.
Huh. But the direction...
Han Ibi said,
"I thought the sect leader's quarters were that way when I saw earlier this afternoon..."
Yang Je glanced back.
"Not the quarters. The sect leader wants a quiet meeting."
He quickened his pace again.
Han Ibi shrugged and followed.
Yang Je left the main Wudang buildings and headed into the mountains.
Han Ibi, growing a bit anxious, asked,
"Is it far?"
Yang Je replied,
"Not at all. There's a pavilion where Wudang folk sometimes enjoy the scenery. That's where we're headed."
After that, Han Ibi followed quietly.
As he walked, he thought,
'Man, China's mountains really are on another scale—grand and breathtaking. How did they even build structures on slopes like this? The more I see, the more impressive it gets...'
Then, far off at the edge of a cliff, a small building with ornate tiles came into view.
A man stood inside, back turned, gazing at the landscape...
Han Ibi swallowed hard without realizing it.
Yang Je bowed toward the man's back.
"Sect Leader. I've brought the Qingcheng Sect's young hero Jong."
The man spoke without turning.
"Good work. You may go."
Yang Je replied politely with a bow.
"Yes, Sect Leader. I'll take my leave."
As Yang Je retreated down the path, the man remained still, back turned.
Han Ibi stood awkwardly behind him.
By jianghu custom, the senior with higher status spoke first.
Han Ibi waited patiently.
But even after Yang Je was gone, the silence dragged on, so just as Han Ibi was about to speak.
The man said without turning,
"Isn't the moon truly beautiful?"
Huh? Moon?
At his words, Han Ibi looked up quickly.
But no moon was visible.
Thick clouds blanketed the sky.
Han Ibi tilted his head.
"I don't see the moon tonight?"
The man let out a deep sigh before saying,
"Qingcheng Sect's young hero Jong... That's you, right?"
"Yes, Sect Leader. It is."
"There's something I want to ask you today."
He pointed gently at the clouds with a faint halo.
"The moon may be hidden now... but does that mean it doesn't exist?"
Han Ibi said,
"Of course not."
The man sighed deeply once more.
"Exactly. The moon doesn't vanish just because clouds obscure it. And..."
The man said,
"...that's precisely how I feel about my wife."
Eh?
W-what's this?
So sappy, goosebumps prickling through his skin!
That was when the man turned toward Han Ibi.
His figure in the moonlight... Ahh...!
A living, breathing immortal!
Nothing less!
And that all-too-familiar face.
Smooth as a sculpture.
A face he could never forget, even in dreams.
It was...
(To be continued next episode)