Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Laws of the Demonic Path
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"But side effects have appeared, haven't they?"
Song Myeong-cheon nodded.
"That's right. My body became incomparably strong after learning the Crimson Dream Great Law. It instantly enhances any kind of martial art. But everything comes with a price. This Crimson Dream Great Law... it devours its master. Little by little. As time passes, it destroys my body, and lately, it's even trying to dominate my consciousness, going berserk. Those twisted and tangled meridians tormented me. And that thing..."
Song Myeong-cheon looked straight at Han Ibi.
Then, a lotus-shaped tattoo bloomed black on his forehead.
A tattoo writhing like a living insect.
Song Myeong-cheon continued with a horrific expression, as if the Crimson Dream Great Law were some beast.
"It's coiled up in my messed-up dantian, parasitizing me. It's clever enough not to devour its host all at once... but it's slowly encroaching on my flesh bit by bit. So, you could call it a kind of deadly poison disguised as a martial art."
Their eyes met.
"That's why I'm searching for the Golden Radiant Herb. It protects the body and keeps the mind pure, but it also has incredibly pure and primal effects. It can dispel nearly all kinds of extreme poisons and drive out impure energies from the body."
So, it can drive out the Crimson Dream Great Law?
Han Ibi said,
"I see."
But something felt off.
Han Ibi's eyes were glistening with moisture.
And soon, tears were streaming down his cheeks.
Song Myeong-cheon asked, somewhat surprised.
"What's wrong?"
I don't know. The tears just keep coming.
All of this... I experienced it myself.
Han Ibi quickly wiped his tears and replied,
"No, it's nothing. You've suffered so much. Truly, you've suffered..."
Song Myeong-cheon looked at Han Ibi with a puzzled expression.
The kitchen head, Auntie Jo Jin-suk, was bawling her eyes out, snot and all.
See? You have to treat people well while they're around...
"Nooo~! You should've said something ahead of time. You can't just leave without a proper goodbye! I could've made you something delicious..."
Judging by his face, the innkeeper Hwang Bang also seemed deeply upset that his ace was leaving like this.
Han Ibi said,
"Uncle, Auntie. Thank you so much. I'll come down from the mountain often. I have to sell herbs, so I'll be here every two or three months. I'll stop by and say hi then."
Hwang Bang said,
"Sure. Thanks for everything. If anything changes, come back and work anytime. Got it?"
"Yes, Uncle Hwang. Thank you so much."
"Alright. We'll see each other again, so don't go too far. Take care of your health, old timer."
Song Myeong-cheon merely nodded silently.
The two set off once more toward Demon Valley Mountain.
Han Ibi said,
"How did that Tak Bu-yong guy know you were on Demon Valley Mountain, Elder?"
Song Myeong-cheon replied,
"He's been doggedly tracking me for three years. As the Wudang Sect Leader, he can't move personally, so he outsources to neutral and black path factions. I've slaughtered every one that came after me. That's how the rumors about me spread."
No wonder, ripping arms off mercilessly in fights...
"He must have been shocked too. He probably thought my martial arts were crippled."
Han Ibi, lost in thought for a moment, said,
"Hmm... If Tak Bu-yong keeps up with worldly affairs like that, he must know about the Golden Radiant Herb too."
"The tale of the Golden Radiant Herb is famous folklore. The legendary habitat of the 'Golden Radiant Herb' is none other than 'Demon Valley Mountain.' He predicted I'd be around here. Seems he even planted eyes in the village."
"And in the end... he found us."
Indeed.
The cabin where Song Myeong-cheon and Han Ibi lived showed signs of visitors. Their hideout had been discovered.
Song Myeong-cheon and Han Ibi hurriedly packed essentials into sacks.
Whoosh!
Flames roared up.
Of course, the cabin was made of wood.
It burned crackling fiercely.
The scorching heat billowed. The sound of fire spreading pierced their ears fiercely.
No point reusing a discovered spot. The two headed deeper into the mountains.
Demon Valley Mountain's terrain grew fiercer the higher they climbed.
No human traces anywhere, even if you scrubbed your eyes looking.
After two full days and nights of wandering, they found an ancient natural cave near a cliff.
Not ideal for long stays, but useful for a while.
Then... Han Ibi suddenly felt hungry.
They hadn't eaten properly in two days; hunger hit hard.
Han Ibi hastily hunted mountain beasts. Luckily, deeper in, wild animals feared humans less.
Most fled, but some pitiful creatures eyed him curiously now and then.
Han Ibi gathered a handful of berry-like fruits and successfully hunted a rabbit, returning to the cave.
"Elder. I'm back."
No response.
Song Myeong-cheon was already seated at the cave's end, regulating his breathing. Best not to disturb during cultivation.
But the old man's complexion during meditation looked poor. His health seemed to worsen daily.
Every use of martial arts made it worse.
'I need to get the Golden Radiant Herb for him soon...'
Han Ibi prayed for the fainted rabbit's soul. He slit its throat, drained the blood, and gutted it.
As he prepared to boil the rabbit meat in a pot,
"Mae-ya."
Han Ibi doubted his ears. The gruff old man had never called him so affectionately.
"Yes, Elder."
Han Ibi replied, looking at the elder. Just then, Song Myeong-cheon finished regulating and snapped his eyes open.
"Come closer."
"Yes, Elder."
Han Ibi wiped his dirty hands roughly on his clothes and approached Song Myeong-cheon.
Song Myeong-cheon said,
"From now on, pay me the respects due a master."
Aah! Finally. At last! The classic wuxia 'disciple bowing rite.'
Other protagonists get it early... Why did it take me so long...?
"Yes! Master. Thank you. Thank you again!"
Han Ibi immediately began kowtowing nine times. The rocky cave floor was hard, but he had to redden his forehead.
Of course, he controlled his strength. Wuxia descriptions often say it goes 'thunk thunk,' but trying it, that's overkill.
One, two, three... seven, eight, nine!
Hmm. About time for it to appear.
Kuhuk.
It finally came.
Han Ibi nearly shed tears of emotion.
He had finally completed the main quest.
But more moving than the quest was receiving Song Myeong-cheon's recognition.
Had he ever formed such a deep bond in reality...?
No, forget that—had he ever cried for anyone besides family?
Anyway... Why did this quest, introduced so early, take so long...?
Hmm... Good. Nice... But what's this 'heritage'?
Then Song Myeong-cheon spoke.
"I only know its name."
Han Ibi asked blankly,
"Pardon?"
"The martial art's name."
"The martial art's name?"
"Yes. The one I can pass to you."
"Ah! You mean that."
The epic quest mentioned some 'Hong something,' but he couldn't recall well.
"Their names are 'Crimson Dream Great Law' and 'Demonic Sage Blade Technique.'"
At that moment.
A sound effect rang, and a status window appeared before his eyes.
This again.
Quick skim. Yes.
[Fortuitous Encounter DB System Search Results.]
Name: Demonic Sage Blade Technique
Classification: Stage 4
Type: External Art
Features: Originally 'Mara Blade Technique' (Mara referring to the Buddhist demon that bewitches humans). Created by General Ju Ho-gyeong of Wu Kingdom, who made a name with it as a war art. Known to have been lost after Wu's fall, but passed down renamed by his descendant, the monk Great Master No Dan. Exact abilities unknown.
So... in short, no one knows. Why pop up the status window then...? And the Crimson Dream Great Law isn't even one of the 108 Fortuitous Encounters?
Then Song Myeong-cheon's voice came.
"The Crimson Dream Great Law is an internal heart method. The Demonic Sage Blade Technique is for wielding the blade. They're independent, but together, they achieve maximum effect."
"Yes. Understood."
"The Crimson Dream Great Law... as you can see from me... is fundamentally a demonic art."
"A demonic art?"
He'd already guessed, but for courtesy, he'd play dumb...
"Yes... Fundamentally, the Crimson Dream Great Law embodies the principles of the demonic path. It pushes those evil principles to the extreme. Once implanted, it grants the master immense power and authority, but ultimately swaps master and slave. That's the terror of the Crimson Dream Great Law."
'I see! So behind the demonic taoist being the villain in the original Dream of the Ant Snake, there was this tragic backstory.'
"I understand. But there's something I don't get. How does the demonic path differ from the righteous path?"
"It's just a convenient label with the 'evil' character. Righteous arts aren't fundamentally different. All martial arts connect at the root. It's merely a matter of what comes first and what follows."
"I still don't quite get it."
"Heh heh heh. Like whether to eat meat or veggies first."
"Still hazy."
"Fine. No need for details. In conclusion, it demands a price."
"A price?"
Han Ibi's mind grew more tangled.
"Yes. Be it body or mind. So I can't—and shouldn't—teach you the 'Crimson Dream Great Law.'"
What? No teaching after all this talk...?
"Hmm. Thank you. But Master, doesn't learning righteous arts avoid a price?"
Song Myeong-cheon smirked for the first time in a while.
"Far from it. Vast time and effort. The process of building the foundation to manifest the art—that's the price of righteous arts."
Han Ibi gained great insight. Song Myeong-cheon continued,
"But I can teach you a few moves of the Demonic Sage Blade Technique. Great for self-defense. They're designed for quick learning."
Oh ho! Better than nothing. Good. Survival first.
"Yes. I seek your guidance, Master."
Deep in the mountains, days were short. Firewood had to be conserved.
So they lived naturally by the sun's rhythm.
From dawn to afternoon, they gathered herbs, searching for Golden Radiant Herb in spare moments.
From late afternoon to dusk, he taught key strikes of the Demonic Sage Blade Technique.
Yet Song Myeong-cheon weakened daily.
Likely the cost of overusing the Crimson Dream Great Law in the last fight.
Han Ibi could clearly feel it.
Song Myeong-cheon was struggling to prevent master and slave from swapping.
He was fighting a long battle to retain control of his body.
Han Ibi wanted to help him recover his health and wield arts freely.
A sense of mission arose to find the 'Golden Radiant Herb' for his revenge against injustice.
Otherwise... what a pitiful life.
(To be continued in the next installment)