In the Same Boat
The black-hatted man let his tension ease.
He had never imagined a being could stand untouched by his qi and conceal their internal energy so completely.
Instead he asked Uncheon,
“What in the world is a member of the Namgung Family doing in a place like this?”
Uncheon glanced at the man’s eyes and shook his head as if the whole situation pained him.
“That’s what I’d like to know. I’m going out of my mind myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“I stopped by Hefei for my maternal grandfather’s birthday and was heading back to Hwangshan when I stupidly took a wrong turn.”
So that was why he had been traveling with the Hwangsan Escort Agency.
The black-hatted man could hardly be ignorant of the incident that had struck the escort convoy bound for Hefei.
“I heard you traveled with the escort when you went to Hefei. You could have done the same this time.”
“I was confident. Traveling with an escort is convenient, of course, but I thought I might try moving alone through the murim for once.”
“A boy spoiled by fortune.”
The black-hatted man fixed Uncheon with a sharp stare.
“Have you seen anyone coming this way?”
“Ah… I’ve been asleep the whole time, so I really don’t know. I don’t think I heard anyone pass by.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. But who are you looking for?”
“…….”
The black-hatted man stared hard into Uncheon’s face, studying the slightest tremor in his pupils for any sign of a lie. He understood why the youth had been inside the shrine, yet the last of his suspicion had not quite vanished.
Uncheon, however, read every thought with perfect clarity.
He hasn’t dropped his doubt entirely, but he has no intention of killing me right now. If I keep playing the ignorant fool, I should be safe.
Just as Uncheon expected, the black-hatted man decided there was nothing more to learn from him.
He doesn’t even know who I am or whom I’m hunting. No point wasting strength on a nobody this weak. Still…
It never hurt to prepare for the one-in-a-thousand chance.
“I’ll be on my way.”
“Are you heading down the mountain? Then might I travel with you?”
“Our paths are not the same. No need.”
“Ah… I see. I was hoping to impose if you were going down, since I don’t know the way… a pity. Take care.”
“…….”
With a soft rustle the black-hatted man stepped right in front of Uncheon, drew up his internal energy, and pressed a finger to an acupoint.
A vivid red light flared from Uncheon’s Zhongwan point as though it had been driven deep into the flesh.
“I have sealed your body with the Honggi Blood Method.”
A cold smile touched the man’s lips.
“If the seal is not released within exactly twelve shichen, the flame that begins in your heart will spread through your entire body.”
“W-what have you done?!”
“Wait here until I return. Once I find the man I’m hunting, I will free you. If you so much as raise a thread of internal energy before those twelve shichen are up, your heart will burst. I advise against any foolishness.”
Clutching his chest, Uncheon lowered his head.
“I understand…….”
In the next breath the black-hatted man’s presence vanished from the shrine.
“Haa…….”
Every muscle in Uncheon’s body went slack. The pressure of the qi that had radiated from the man had made even breathing difficult.
He sank down and touched his chest. Where the seal had been placed, a reddish mark still glowed.
A vicious sort.
To plant a restriction inside another’s body… the method was pure malice. It was no different from murder.
And yet—
“My heart doesn’t even hurt.”
Uncheon tugged his collar open and looked. The crimson light that had been embedded only moments earlier was already gone.
The black-hatted man had claimed only he could release the seal, yet the Honggi Blood Method had dissolved of its own accord. Unbelievable as it seemed, the sealing qi had melted into Uncheon’s own energy and been absorbed.
He did not fully understand why such a thing happened, but one fact was certain: a special internal energy lay hidden within his body.
How long before that man returns?
Uncheon looked up at the beam where he had hidden Dokjeonhwa. The darkness swallowed the figure, yet he knew the man still lay motionless above.
He had to get him out.
Uncheon untied the bundle at his waist. Inside was a set of white martial attire.
Clothes Uncle Hwajeong packed “just in case.”
He had to change and leave the mountain before the black-hatted man came back.
Dressed in the white combat robes, Uncheon lowered Dokjeonhwa from the beam and released the sealed points.
“Was it hard?”
“I’m fine.”
“He’ll return soon. We need to leave at once.”
“Why… are you helping me?”
“You almost died. I don’t want to watch someone I know die.”
“…….”
Dokjeonhwa studied Uncheon in silence for a moment, then spoke with quiet concern.
“Because of me you may be placed in danger.”
“I know. I don’t understand why I did it either.”
“…….”
“But even if I regret it, I can’t take it back.”
“Leave me here.”
“After coming this far? And if he finds you he’ll know at once that I hid you. We’re in the same boat now.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“Run.”
“Is that even possible?”
“I have no idea. We’ll leave it to Heaven. Can you move?”
“Not yet, I fear. Until my energy circulates a little better… may I impose?”
“Of course. Climb onto my back.”
“My thanks. How shall I ever repay this kindness…….”
“You can tell me later. There’s no rush.”
Uncheon hoisted him onto his back and slipped carefully out of the shrine.
Once outside he could not move freely.
No choice but to go back the way I came.
One shichen had passed since he left the shrine and began wandering the mountain.
The black-hatted man raced through the forest with his internal energy fully raised.
He shouldn’t be able to move properly…
Finding Dokjeonhwa—wounded by a New Moon Assassin—in these mountains at night should not have been difficult.
Unless someone is helping him…
He stopped dead. His face twisted.
That Namgung brat…?
The only presence he had sensed in the mountains so far was that one youth.
A dry snort escaped him.
Fortunately there was no need to rush back. Placing the seal “just in case” had been the right decision. Only he could release the Honggi Blood Method, and he had made certain the boy knew that after a single day he would be a corpse. The youth’s energy was nothing special, and at his age life was still precious; he would not have fled.
I’ll return to the shrine and question him properly.
With a sharp whistle of wind the black-hatted man surged toward the shrine, internal energy blazing.
The half-ruined door crashed fully open.
“You little—!”
The moment he stepped inside he searched for Uncheon, yet not a single thread of presence remained.
“Ha!”
An incredulous laugh burst from him. Murderous aura rolled out so thickly the roof of the shrine trembled as though it might collapse.
“This is absurd. Was I actually deceived by a Namgung child?”
The image of Uncheon answering so innocently while looking him straight in the eye rose before him.
“Shameless brat. To lie to my face without so much as a flicker… It seems a rare breed has appeared in the Namgung Family.”
They had already been gone a full shichen.
The black-hatted man stepped back out through the shattered doorway.
No matter how cunning you are, carrying a wounded man out of these mountains without using internal energy will not be easy.
Sealed by the Honggi Blood Method, the boy could not draw upon his energy. Because no internal force could be sensed, the exact path was unknown, yet one thing was certain.
No matter how far you run, you are still in the Buddha’s palm. Sooner or later you will have to head for Hwangshan and beg for help.
Before long he would enjoy the look of shock on the face of that bold little liar.
Carrying Dokjeonhwa on his back, Uncheon descended not toward Hwangshan but in the opposite direction—toward Akseo.
First I need a place where he can circulate his energy in peace.
Akseo was new to him. Fortunately he still had the money received from the escort job and the spending money Grandfather Sun Heo had pressed into his hand before he left Hefei. It was enough for a full month of quiet lodging.
Dokjeonhwa had regained some strength while riding on Uncheon’s back, and Uncheon himself found the burden no great hardship.
They reached an inn early in the morning.
What? At this hour…
The attendant who greeted them—Jadeung—immediately noticed the bloodstains on one man’s clothes.
Murim folk.
Quick-witted, Jadeung offered a careful greeting.
“Welcome.”
“Do you have rooms?”
Unlike the middle-aged man with the grim face, the young man spoke politely. Yet a sword hung at the waist of the youth dressed in white martial attire.
“Ah… yes. The rooms in the annex are a little more expensive.”
“That’s fine. Please.”
“I will show you the way.”
Jadeung led them around to the rear of the inn and into the annex. Twelve guest rooms stood in a long row. He pointed to the farthest one.
“Would the innermost room suit you?”
“Thank you.”
Uncheon followed him to the end. The room they entered was spacious, with two sleeping chambers and a sitting room for meals and tea.
“Ten nyang of copper a day.”
“I see. Here.”
Uncheon handed over two nyang of silver. Jadeung’s eyes went wide.
“We plan to stay only two days or so. Keep the rest.”
“My deepest thanks, young master! If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“First, clean clothes for this gentleman, if you would.”
“I will fetch them at once.”
Jadeung beamed, closed the door, and hurried out.
Dokjeonhwa sank into a chair as though all the tension had drained from him. The sharp voice of their first meeting was now thick with apology.
“Young Master Uncheon, my thanks.”
“It’s nothing.”
“But the price of this room is not merely ten nyang.”
“I know. He asked five nyang extra per night.”
Dokjeonhwa leaned forward slightly and looked at him.
“You knew, yet you settled for ten?”
“There was no need to make anyone lose face.”
“…….”
Dokjeonhwa understood. This was nothing like the carefree rich youth he had first met on the road down to Hwangsan Village.
I thought him nothing more than a spoiled young master who liked to play. Was I wrong?
Uncheon suddenly seemed a different person.
“Because of me you are paying even more. I am sorry.”
“You can repay me later. I’ll remember.”
“Haha… I shall.”
“First let’s look at those wounds. Take off your upper robes.”
“Very well.”
Dokjeonhwa stripped at once. The injuries left by the New Moon Assassin showed clearly, blood long since dried. Uncheon examined them carefully. Fortunately the bones appeared unbroken.
“Hmm… does it hurt?”
“It does.”
“You bear pain well.”
Satisfied with his inspection, Uncheon rose.
“I’ll step out for a moment.”
“Where to…?”
“We’ll need medicinal herbs to treat the wounds.”
“Are you going to fetch a physician?”
“I can handle this much myself. I learned enough at the Daeyeon Hall.”
Dokjeonhwa looked surprised.
“So the Namgung Family even teaches the treatment of wounds.”
“Doesn’t every place do at least this much?”
“I rather doubt it.”
Out in the murim one never knew what might happen; it seemed the great clans drilled their descendants in even the smallest contingencies. Martial prowess alone did not make one supreme. He thought he was beginning to understand why the Namgung Family had become a great and renowned house.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Very well. Take care.”
Uncheon left the inn.
I need an herbalist.
For external wounds rather than internal injuries, a proper poultice was required. Finding a medicine shop in the village was simple enough; one only had to follow the thick scent of herbs.
There it is.
A small signboard bearing the characters for “Apothecary” came into view. Drawing closer, Uncheon greeted the old man sitting amid the dense aroma of medicinal plants.
“Good day, elder.”
“What brings you?”
The old man lifted his head. The moment he saw the sword at Uncheon’s waist he flinched. Noticing the fear, Uncheon spoke with quiet courtesy.
“Elder, I have come to buy herbs.”
“What… do you need?”
“Do you happen to have Mannyeoncho?”
“Heh… so someone has been cut by a blade. One must always be careful with swords.”
“You are right, elder. Yet even when we are careful, we murim folk still manage to get hurt against our will.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Wait a moment.”
The old man disappeared into the shop and soon returned with a small medicine pouch.
“Inside is well-dried Mannyeoncho. Do you know how to use it?”
“Yes. Grind it to powder and apply it to the wound.”
“Huhu, you know well. Take this as well if you need it.”
“What is it?”
“A healing salve. Applied together it will be more effective.”
“Thank you, elder. How much?”
“Normally one nyang of silver, but today I am in a good mood. Take it free.”
“Is that all right? Thank you. I will repay this kindness next time.”
“Heh heh, do as you like.”
The old man watched Uncheon’s departing back after the youth had taken the pouch and bowed. He was not merely the village herbalist; he was also a renowned physiognomist of Anhui Province, though few knew his face well.
Heh heh… the countenance of a dragon. And not just any dragon—a Heavenly Dragon has appeared before me.
He continued gazing in the direction Uncheon had vanished and nodded slowly.
“How could I take money from a Heavenly Dragon? A bond with a Heavenly Dragon is worth more than gold or jewels…….”