Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Ambush (2)
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Clop clop, clop clop!
The sound of horse hooves rang out, and his body rocked in rhythm with the pace. Then, as the uneven terrain caused the wheels to hit a rock, the carriage jolted upward with a heavy lurch. It thudded down again with another bounce.
Ugh!
His flickering consciousness slowly returned from the carriage's jolt. He lifted his eyelids, heavy as iron bars.
Dark shadows crossed his blurry vision, gradually sharpening into focus.
Stare!
He locked eyes with someone gazing at him and bolted upright in shock.
"...My lord!"
"Sleep well?"
"How did I...?"
"I'll keep it short, so listen up. The soul of the Heavenly Warrior inside the Mythical Demon Spirit Armor tried to devour you and went berserk."
He skipped the part about beating it down, but judging from the man's ragged state, the hunch was spot on.
'Ah!'
Nareung remembered donning the Mythical Demon Spirit Armor and circulating his qi—then his consciousness had faded. It seemed the Heavenly Warrior had wanted not a successor, but a new body. A peerless talent blinded by the allure of treasure.
"It didn't agree with him, so it ended quick. Pull yourself together."
"...Thank you."
He had nearly become the Heavenly Warrior's puppet, but Mujin had saved him. He should be grateful, yet Nareung's mouth felt bitter.
'He wanted my lord, not me!'
Looking back on how he'd acquired the Mythical Demon Spirit Armor, no ordinary martial artist would dare claim it. The Heavenly Warrior of the ages needed a vessel worthy of containing him fully.
And I put it on.
The more Nareung thought of the Heavenly Warrior's shock, the more bitter he felt. What if it had been his lord instead? No one would have survived, so he had no right to feel wronged.
A chill ran down his spine!
It was a simple what-if, but a total disaster. Knowing his lord's power made it all the worse. Even the Heavenly Warrior at his peak wouldn't guarantee victory against him.
Nareung's heart pounded harder the more he dwelled on it. He had nearly unleashed a calamity on the world.
What, it might not have happened? Nonsense. Could anyone swear a soul that craves another's body wouldn't bring harm to the world?
Though infamous as a thief, Nareung wasn't some murdering fiend.
'What have I done!'
Just imagining it was horrifying. The Heavenly Warrior was bad enough, but his lord was no saint either. If those two fused into some freakish hybrid, who could predict the chaos?
"What about the Mythical Demon Spirit Armor?"
"It felt off since it was a gift, but I'm wearing it now."
"...?"
Nareung blinked, struggling to make sense of it for a moment.
If his lord was wearing it, then the Heavenly Warrior...?
"Are you alright?"
"I ate the Heavenly Warrior, so no worries there. His soul force was pretty substantial."
"...?"
He ate the soul!
Nareung stared at Mujin in horror. He'd known the man was beyond normal, but devouring the Heavenly Warrior?
-For one of the Seven Greats of old, he was surprisingly meager.
'Gained a ton and still greedy.'
The Demon King had actually consumed the soul force, but Mujin had benefited too, sharing the same mental realm. The Demon King did the work and grumbled about Mujin reaping the rewards.
He'd considered sparing the Heavenly Warrior as a slave. But not because of the armor—the guy was filthy to begin with. He'd committed countless evils for his own power.
Especially the thousands of humans used to craft Blood Ghouls. Some things were beyond the pale, even if war claimed countless lives. Offering human sacrifices for personal glory was another level.
Spare him, and he'd manipulate humans at will—but that would make Mujin no better.
Mujin chose differently. Any choice was better if voluntary; it looked good all around.
"Try circulating your qi."
"Pardon?"
"The Heavenly Warrior Scripture's pathways should still be there."
"Ah!"
The Heavenly Warrior had absorbed Nareung's qi via the Heavenly Warrior Scripture. The altered pathways would linger in his meridians.
Nareung's real goal wasn't the armor, but the Heavenly Warrior's arts—no loss there.
"Balance the flow through your Conception and Governing Vessels at three-tenths of your total qi."
"Like this?"
"Thinner, and deeper."
"Got it."
"The foundation of the Heavenly Warrior Scripture is opening the upper dantian by connecting the Ren and Du meridians. Reach mastery, and you might ascend to the absolute realm."
Nareung couldn't help but admire Mujin's insight into the flow. At the same time, he marveled at his lord's generosity in casually sharing such an ultimate art.
'He'll be useful later.'
Thanks to the Heavenly Warrior's influence, Nareung's attainment had risen three stars. The excessive strain on the body for survival left clear traces. No match for the original, but with the armor, he could disrupt their plans.
He'd sent a letter to meet in Onyang, Hubei Province, to hash out details. They were probably racing there by now. Ahead of schedule by calculation.
At this pace, they'd arrive first and wait.
"Done circulating?"
"Yes."
"What are you doing?"
"Pardon?"
"Drive the carriage."
The awe didn't last.
Nareung unfolded from his cross-legged position, stepped out, and relieved Cheolho and Yukchil at the reins.
"Big bro, what's it like getting the Heavenly Warrior Scripture?"
"Wanna know?"
"You gonna tell me?"
"If you want."
"Nah."
Learning the Heavenly Warrior Scripture required discarding one's prior inner arts. If the Heavenly Warrior still lived in the armor, he'd force it—but Yukchil lacked such skill.
Besides, he hadn't even mastered the Beggars' Sect's arts fully; no greed for others.
'He wouldn't teach without reason.'
Yukchil saw more than a martial prodigy in Mujin. Everything had purpose. Blind greed led to no escape when pierced later.
'Same now.'
Frustration gnawed: hadn't the whole sect gotten pierced because of him?
To reach Onyang, they had to cross a mountain. Said to hold life's joys and sorrows, it was called Seven Emotions Mountain.
Sun hadn't set, but crossing by wagon risked nightfall.
They decided to stay at the Seven Emotions Inn at the base, run for generations. Over half full with prior guests—mostly folks eating before crossing tomorrow.
Even day-laborers had tomorrows. Their cart cargoes were tomorrow's hopes.
Mujin asked the greeting errand boy:
"Rooms available?"
"Regulars are full; one detached suite left. Pricey, though."
"That'll do. Bring meals there."
"How many nights?"
"One, obviously. And hurry the food—I'm starving."
"Payment upfront, sir."
Mujin paid the boy.
Pre-mountain inns weren't city-grade, even suites. As expected, the suite was basic. Yet priced like urban lodgings—hence regulars filled first. The boy warning upfront showed some conscience.
"Yukchil, anything on Seven Emotions Mountain?"
"Black Ox Stronghold, bottom-rung bandits. Pay toll, no trouble. They wouldn't dare block a Tang Clan carriage unless insane."
"When's Hong Mugae coming?"
"As soon as possible, but it'll take time. Why?"
"Got time to kill."
Yukchil grew uneasy at the cryptic words. Mujin's idle chatter often proved prescient later. He turned lies to truth—a peculiar gift.
"Beggars' Sect branch nearby?"
"After crossing—sub-branch in Onyang."
Awkward distance. Cross, and it's close—but Black Oxes held the mountain. Clever traces spotted.
'Hard to bother me.'
-Petty types nurse even small grudges. And this ain't small.
'It's minor. I yielded too.'
-Orthodox sects full of hypocrites.
Rivers-lakes grudges lasted till death. Small ones could claim lives later. Hence the adage: avoid needless strife.
Next day, they left the inn.
Cheolho, Yukchil, and Nareung loaded crates onto the carriage. Others prepped diligently, slinging packs and departing one by one.
Mujin watched the leaving guests, hands behind back.
"My lord, ready."
"Nice weather today."
"Yesterday too."
"Better. Stay another day."
Why stay in good weather? Puzzled, but unquestioned. They unhitched horses, unloaded crates, returned to suite.
Next day.
Hitched horses, loaded crates.
Mujin gazed skyward, hands behind back. Nearly recited a sijo, but knew none.
"Why's that cloud shaped like that?"
"Normal cloud, no?"
"No, weird. Stay today too. Unload."
"Yes, sir."
Sudden, but they obeyed. Mujin's whims were routine.
And the next day.
"Spotted a ladybug today. Unload."
Ladybug meant unload after loading. Innkeeper found it odd, but the suite's loyal sucker? Hands off.
For the owner:
'I just take the money.'
Mujin's antics lasted a fortnight. Weather stayed clear.
"Cloudy today."
"Unload?"
"Let's go."
"Ah, yes."
Overcast and dreary—rain imminent. Mountains shifted fast. Better not climb such days.
No contrarian here; heading out in rain? Unexpected to some.
Innkeeper especially bitter losing the sucker. He'd even shown extra skill today, greed winning. Still, a proper chef.
Owner Yang Insan sent packed meat dumplings.
"Take these."
"You got conscience."
"Receive, and give back."
"Be back."
Yang Insan expected no return. Such words never led to visits.
Mujin noted the owner's savvy, even if empty words. World wasn't all bad.
Mujin boarded the carriage.