Chapter 37 - May Under the Same Quilt
Hyeonjin's eyes narrowed.
Muheo was rolling his eyes in a panic, which meant he was definitely hiding something. It reminded Hyeonjin of the time, back in his youth, when Muheo had stashed liquor and meat inside the sect and got caught by the sect leader—same exact expression.
Hyeonjin smiled faintly and spoke softly.
“I've taken on a junior sister at my age, so of course I have to pay my respects to the family elders.”
“No, no! That's not it! I know that kid's uncle well—he's a real shy one! So just skip him!”
Muheo couldn't hide his fluster. He kept darting his eyes around, unable to even meet Hyeonjin's gaze.
“Do you intend to make my junior's uncle out to be some mannerless brute? Step aside.”
“Uh... no! That's not a good idea!”
“Come on, why are you acting like a child? Move aside, I said.”
“Uh, j-junior brother!”
Hyeonjin pushed Muheo aside with sheer force. Muheo pretended to resist but shuffled to the side, shouting all the while.
“Don't call the uncle by his nickname! He's especially shy about that!”
“What's with all this weird talk...”
Hyeonjin's gaze shifted to the corner of the courtyard. There stood a man with his arms crossed.
“......”
Their eyes met. A chill ran down Hyeonjin's spine in an instant. His eyes slowly widened in shock.
Jin Muhon simply stared back, unmoving.
“Uh...?”
Cold sweat beaded on Hyeonjin's forehead. His pupils trembled, his breathing grew ragged. His head turned slowly. With shaking eyes, he looked at Muheo. Muheo nodded as if to say, I know, right?
“I was the same at first.”
“......!”
Whoosh!
Hyeonjin leaped onto the roof in a panic with his lightness skill, then drew his sword with a sharp shing and pointed it at Jin Muhon.
“Waaah!”
“Amazing!”
The clueless guests gaped in admiration. Muheo clapped his hands.
“Whoa, my junior brother. You've mastered the Supreme Ultimate Sword.”
Hyeonjin's blade gleamed auspiciously in the sunlight, as if blessing the day's bonds.
- Haha! This booze tastes amazing today! Come on, Taoist, have a drink! Oh, wait—don't Taoists drink?
- Nah, that's monks. Taoist, have some snacks too. When else will girls like us get to serve precious Wudang Taoists?
- Uh... uh... alright.
- Aww! Will you let me serve you tonight?
- Uh... uh...?
The ceremony had ended. A feast was underway in the Jin family courtyard. Fragrant liquor tickled the nose, steam rose from mouthwatering dishes.
- Handsome Taoist brother! Say ahh!
- Uh?
- Hohohoho!
The people of Unbong County laughed heartily for the first time in ages, enjoying themselves. Cups clinked, laughter echoed without end. Even the Wudang Taoists mingled awkwardly with the villagers, faces flushed. The courtesans from Unbong Pavilion played no small part in loosening their guards.
“Heh heh. Lively atmosphere.”
In stark contrast, the mood inside the family head's residence was as cold and biting as the North Sea. Wudang's sect leader Hyeonjin sat with his lips pressed tight, staring gravely at Jin Muhon, who sipped his tea in silence.
“Heroes gathered and all, but tea feels off. I'll fetch some liquor. Heave-ho. Where'd I put it? Gotta go outside.”
Muheo rose stealthily. Hyeonjin spoke up.
“Martial uncle. Sit.”
“Uh, uh. Right.”
Muheo's butt hit the seat with a thud under Hyeonjin's heavy tone. Hyeonjin eyed him.
“So you've taken the Sword Demon's blood kin as a disciple?”
“Aigoo! What talk is that? Sword Demon? That guy's long retired from that. Call him Jin family head, Jin family head. Whew, just the nickname gives me chills.”
“Martial uncle!”
Hyeonjin slammed the floor. Muheo flinched and turned away.
A spat with Nangong could be overlooked—someone had to settle things with the Five Great Families eventually, Muheo or not. Taking a disciple out of nowhere and messing up the hierarchy? Manageable, especially since she wasn't staying at the sect as an internal disciple.
But her uncle being the Sword Demon? Demonic Cult vice leader, slayer of countless righteous warriors. Hyeonjin shuddered recalling the Sword Demon's blade from years past.
“Sect leader.”
“......!”
Jin Muhon finally spoke. Hyeonjin and Muheo jumped, staring at him.
“No Wudang blood stains my hands.”
“Mm... well...”
In recent decades, the righteous sects and Demonic Cult had avoided all-out war. Skirmishes happened near Demonic Cult borders like Qinghai, Gansu, or Sichuan, but no major losses for sects outside those areas. Even in current Wudang, only Muheo and Hyeonjin knew the Sword Demon's face.
Muheo, thinking that far, probed casually.
“Sect leader, where'd you see the Jin family head before?”
“Don't you remember? Over a decade ago, in Qinghai.”
“Qinghai? Mm... I was wandering elsewhere then...”
Even Jin Muhon was surprised the Wudang sect leader recognized him. Over ten years ago, Qinghai. Recalling, his eyes gleamed.
“You were there when I clashed with Kunlun Sect?”
Hyeonjin nodded.
“Yes. I wasn't sect leader then. But 'small spat'? Too much blood for that.”
Jin Muhon nodded too.
“I was hot-blooded then.”
“......”
Hyeonjin gritted his teeth. The Sword Demon facing hordes of Kunlun elites alone, wielding a blood-red demonic sword that dyed the world crimson—like a demon from hell. No wonder the sect leader back then ordered Wudang to stay out.
“Call you Jin family head?”
“Yes.”
“Rumors true?”
“Yes.”
“Mm... your internal energy?”
Jin Muhon smirked.
“Want to test it?”
“Aigoo! Jin family head! Good day like this, why? Thirsty? I'll get booze!”
“Old man, sit.”
“Right! I sit good!”
Silence fell again. Muheo swallowed repeatedly, glancing between them.
“No need to overthink.”
Jin Muhon broke it. Hyeonjin stared.
“What do you mean?”
“As long as Wudang doesn't abandon Hayeon, I'll stand with Wudang.”
“......!”
No one in the righteous Murim had faced the Heavenly Demon directly. Their scariest foes: the Four Emperors' leader (dead) and the Sword Demon. Now that monster was an ally. Hyeonjin, who hadn't considered it, weighed the Murim landscape carefully.
Few know the Sword Demon's face. Deny if needed. But his aid...
He glanced at Muheo, who nodded anxiously. Useless old uncle. Word was Nangong head agreed to the duel readily.
Nangong head can't match martial uncle. Yet he agreed... must trust Geomje.
Nangong's rise to match the Nine Great Sects stemmed from the family head's talent, but mostly Geomje's presence—a once-in-centuries sword master who humbled Nine Great Sect elites. Father of the current head.
“Sect leader.”
“......?”
Their gazes locked midair.
“I'll handle Geomje.”
“......!”
Jin Muhon pierced his exact concern, as if reading his mind.
Not just strong in martial arts...
Give and take. Flipping the board now risked unknown backlash. Better close eyes this once.
Primordial Heavenly Lord...
Hyeonjin nodded slowly. All for Wudang.
“I'll look after Junior Sister Hayeon.”
Only then did Jin Muhon's lips curve faintly.
Another month passed. Summer sun blazed, and beneath it, Jin Hayeon absorbed Muheo's teachings like paper soaking water.
Chaeng! Chaeng! Chaechaeng! Chaengchaeng!
“Hah! Hap! Yah!”
The Jin family rear garden flashed with sword light. Muheo parried Hayeon's strikes smoothly, focused on instruction.
“Hayeon, it's Taiji. Wudang sword's core is the unending flow of Taiji, like water.”
“Yes, Master!”
Muheo beamed sweatily at Hayeon swinging her blade. A bond forced by Jin Muhon. Muheo, who'd never formed deep ties, resisted even under Sword Demon threat. But now? Adorable disciple. Always sweet to him, bee-stung lips, prodigious talent—absorbed every lesson.
Yes. I'll live for you now.
Had he known disciple-joy, he'd have taken one sooner. Regret for wasted years chasing bone transformation. Thus, he poured into her training.
“Progressing well?”
Jin Muhon's voice from the garden corner.
“Short break.”
“Yes, Master! Huff! Huff! Huff!”
Muheo sheathed and approached. Hayeon sat cross-legged in shade, eyes closed—meditating to etch the lesson.
“Fine child.”
“Of course. My niece.”
“My disciple.”
They gazed fondly.
“Her achievements?”
“Internal arts framed with Dual Intent Divine Art. Already at the half-flower stage. Bee-stung lips plus Azure Clarity Pill—top talent. Heh heh!”
Mere thought of Hayeon had Muheo grinning ear-to-ear.
“Sect leader overdid it.”
“Overdid? Old man's got a cute junior sister—gotta cough up that hoarded Azure Clarity Pill! Right?”
Jin Muhon smirked. That day, returning sect leader sent the precious pill via disciple. Middle-aged Taoist bowing to teen Hayeon, calling it “apprentice gift”—quite the sight.
“Swordsmanship: basics with Five Elements Sword first, then tailor to her. Heart methods: yang and yin arts matching Dual Intent.”
“Yang and yin together?”
“Yep! Core of our Dual Intent Divine Art. Ours are full, but Hayeon can fill both. Exciting times! Soon, dual-wielding yin-yang sword maiden! Uhahahaha!”
Muheo laughed, head thrown back. Jin Muhon looked skyward. Clear summer blue, lazy white clouds drifting.
Touch Hayeon now? Like provoking Wudang. Who'd dare cross Jin threshold? Muheo seemed set to guard her till death.
This enough?
Behind clouds, parents seemed smiling. Hayeon could thrive without him now.
Tadadada!
“Hm?”
“Huh?”
Someone rushed into the garden.
“Family head!”
Chuk Sa-hwan. Face etched with rare dismay.
“What?”
“Visitor for you. Check it out.”
“......”
Jin Muhon eyed Muheo. Nod.
“Go.”
Don't worry about her. Jin Muhon nodded faintly, following Chuk Sa-hwan to the courtyard.
Step. Step. Step.
One-arm Oepari and servants whispered, clustered.
“Make way. Family head's here.”
They parted. Revealed: bloodied man collapsed, Han So-wol urgently treating him.
“F-family head!”
Han So-wol looked up, flustered. Jin Muhon eyed the man.
“Who?”
His deep voice made the fading man tremble. He struggled up, knelt.
“N-no, don't rise!”
“Healer Han, step back.”
“But family head!”
“Now.”
“...Yes.”
Han So-wol retreated worriedly. Her skirt stained red in moments. The man slowly raised his head. Blood-tears crusted black eyes; parched, cracked lips—days without water.
“My lord... Yeon Danju... captured...”
Squeezed shout. Then he collapsed sideways.