The Second Empty Gaze
It was already the second time.
A person whose thoughts he could not read even when their eyes met.
Uncheon was startled, but unlike the first encounter, he accepted it quickly.
That old man just now was no ordinary elder.
In those eyes he had sensed something different from Uncle Po-ui’s.
If Uncle Po-ui’s eyes felt like plunging into the deepest sea, that man’s felt like stepping into empty space.
He found himself wondering how many more people he would meet across the Central Plains whose thoughts he could not read through their eyes.
Tap, tap.
Uncheon lightly tossed the herb pouch into the air and caught it again.
“I have a feeling we’ll meet again. He gave me the herbs for free, so when we do, I ought to repay the favor.”
A pleasant smile on his face as he looked at the pouch in his hand, Uncheon stepped into the inn.
Creak.
“I’m back.”
Dokjeonhwa, lying on the bed from sheer exhaustion, pushed himself up.
“You’ve returned?”
“How is your body?”
“I rested easy. I’m much better than yesterday.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Dokjeonhwa caught a faint scent of medicinal herbs drifting from the cloth pouch in Uncheon’s hand.
“What is that?”
“Ten-Thousand-Year Herb. It’s excellent for external wounds. Grind it into powder or dissolve it into an extract and apply it to the injury—it’ll heal quickly.”
“I see…”
“Just a moment.”
Uncheon stepped aside and took the dried Ten-Thousand-Year Herb from the pouch. Then he pulled out the salve the old man had given him and sniffed it.
Hmm. Hard to tell by smell alone… but the efficacy should be fine.
He emptied the herb into a bowl, ground it to powder, and mixed the salve back in.
Dokjeonhwa watched him from where he sat.
So this… is the chivalry and righteousness the Namgung Family speaks of?
Uncheon had had no need to save him, yet he had done so anyway. Dokjeonhwa realized he had been wrapped in prejudice and misunderstanding. Not every great orthodox sect was the same.
Half a ke later, Uncheon turned and spoke.
“It’s ready. Show me the wound.”
“Thank you.”
Uncheon carefully applied the salve he had just prepared to Dokjeonhwa’s injury, then wrapped the damaged area in cloth.
“It won’t get any worse.”
“…That’s no ordinary skill.”
“Is it? Well, even at the family they always said all I needed to do was be good at martial arts.”
Dokjeonhwa looked at him as if he didn’t understand and asked,
“Didn’t you defeat a Light-Devouring Viper?”
“I just got lucky.”
“Luck… You’re mistaken. Do you know what I’ve come to understand wandering the Central Plains? In a fight where lives hang in the balance, there is no such thing as luck.”
“You’re not wrong… Still, I’m not particularly strong.”
Looking at his expression, Dokjeonhwa couldn’t tell whether he was joking or telling the truth.
I can’t read his martial skill, and I can’t read his mind at all… No wonder that terrifying man was completely deceived and withdrew without noticing a thing.
Uncheon sat facing him.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Dokjeonhwa had been starving for half a shichen already but hadn’t said a word. He could barely remember the last time he had eaten a proper meal.
“I’ve already ordered food. They’ll bring it soon.”
“Understood.”
Dokjeonhwa felt himself relax.
“Young Master Uncheon—aren’t you curious what happened?”
From the moment he had saved him until now, Uncheon had asked nothing. He already knew from reading the man’s eyes what had occurred, but he pretended otherwise and asked,
“I was just about to. What exactly happened?”
“…Well, you see.”
Dokjeonhwa steadied his breath, then recounted everything—from the Namgung Family Residence, traveling down with Yeojugae of the Beggars’ Sect, right up to the moment he met Uncheon.
It wasn’t an amusing story, but it was hardly nothing either. Yet Uncheon’s expression remained composed from beginning to end.
…Does he simply not understand the situation?
Dokjeonhwa looked at him and asked,
“Judging by your face, none of this seems to interest you much.”
“Ah, no—I was genuinely surprised.”
“Haha. And that is your surprised face?”
“I… do tend to have dull reactions.”
“Hmm. That you do. So what will you do now? That man will certainly be hunting for you, Young Master Uncheon.”
“Yes. He knows who I am, so he’ll know where I’m likely to go.”
“I’m sorry. Helping me has put you in danger.”
“It was my choice, so I have to accept it. First we need to get you well as quickly as possible.”
“Indeed.”
Uncheon weighed what to do next. Fleeing with Dokjeonhwa while the man was still not fully recovered would be difficult for the time being. The black-hatted man knew his identity, so slipping to Mount Hwangshan unnoticed would not be easy either. And yet there was no obvious place to go at once. Returning to Hefei didn’t appeal either.
Hmm… Maybe I should use this chance to head out into the Central Plains. If I send word to the family and explain my situation, there shouldn’t be a problem…
If he couldn’t return to the family for now, he decided to take it as a good opportunity to go out into the wider world. The Central Plains were vast—the black-hatted men would not find them so easily.
Uncheon made up his mind.
“He’ll probably assume I’ll return to the family. That I’ll need their support. So here’s my thought—if we can’t go to the family, what about going out into the Central Plains?”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Wander wherever our feet take us, see the sights, and return to the family when the time is right.”
“…”
The notion of heading into the Central Plains instead of the Namgung Family Residence—Uncheon said it so casually that Dokjeonhwa found it absurd. Of course, Uncheon read even that thought.
“I’ll send word to the family, of course.”
“The Namgung Family will come looking for you, Young Master.”
“All the better if they do.”
“I see.”
Uncheon wasn’t wrong. Once people from the Namgung Family began to appear, the black-hatted men would not be able to move so freely.
This time Uncheon asked,
“What about you, Uncle? What do you plan to do once we leave here?”
“…”
Uncheon saw Dokjeonhwa flustered by the word “Uncle” and let out a quiet snicker.
“We’re in hiding, so calling you by name seems less convenient. Right?”
“V-very well. Do as you like.”
Dokjeonhwa nodded almost by reflex, then sank back into thought. The most urgent matter was healing his injured body. And he soon realized he didn’t need to wonder what to do next. Hadn’t the Golden Masked Man said he would come looking if things went wrong? But he did not want Uncheon, who had saved him, to be dragged into that.
The Golden Masked Man is coming?
It was the first Uncheon had heard of any Golden Masked Man.
Dokjeonhwa opened his mouth.
“Young Master Uncheon, you needn’t worry about me. I can move well enough. It would be best if we parted ways.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll decide based on how your wound progresses. Ah—and we should check what rumors are circulating lately.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes. A branch leader of the Beggars’ Sect was attacked. By now the Beggars’ Sect will be searching high and low with every lantern lit. We ought to find out what happened after that, don’t you think?”
“You’re right. I’ll leave it to you.”
Looking at Uncheon, Dokjeonhwa thought of his disciple, Jeong Cheong. After the attack by the Yaweol Sect’s assassins, he had no idea whether the boy was alive or dead.
Yaweol Sect… If Jeong Cheong is dead, then even if it costs me my life, I will have my revenge on every last one of you.
The Changgung Five-Person Council convened.
Family Head Namgung Cheonwu, Vice Head Namgung Ho-u, Head of the Law Enforcement Hall Namgung Hyeonwu, Head of the Biryu Hall Namgung Dongwu, and Young Family Head Namgung Gunchun—all five gathered in one place.
It was because of the rumors that had risen through the Central Plains after Yeojugae’s recent visit to the family, rumors that now involved Dokjeonhwa.
The death of Yeojugae, branch leader of a Beggars’ Sect outpost. According to the talk, Wolyeonggwangheun Dokjeonhwa had killed Yeojugae and then vanished from the Central Plains.
The five gathered for the Changgung Five-Person Council knew the rumor was false.
The Biryu Hall had moved first. Namgung Dongwu immediately reported the intelligence that had come in from the Central Plains.
“There is no trace of Wolyeonggwangheun to be found anywhere at present.”
“Could he have been seized by assassins, or killed?”
Vice Head Namgung Ho-u asked. Namgung Dongwu shook his head slightly.
“That is not certain. There are reports that suspicious figures were on the move immediately after he disappeared.”
“Hmm… If the culprit is Wolyeonggwangheun, those could be his subordinates.”
“Brother Ho-u, our investigation shows he has no force of his own.”
“Then they are some other faction we do not know. Which means, again, that Wolyeonggwangheun did not kill Yeojugae?”
“Yes, exactly. Someone seems to have killed Yeojugae in order to kill or abduct Wolyeonggwangheun.”
At Namgung Dongwu’s words, Family Head Namgung Cheonwu nodded.
“So it would seem. The Cheonhwangdo Map is the greatest treasure of the Central Plains. The Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident, and this affair as well—both must be because of it.”
“Father. If this incident truly concerns the Cheonhwangdo Map, shouldn’t our family take an active hand?”
“Gunchun. Do you desire Cheonhwangdo as well?”
“What martial artist would claim no interest in Cheonhwangdo? That would be a lie.”
“It is a remarkable thing, but our family has no need of Cheonhwangdo at all.”
“I understand what you mean. I know our family does not need it. But if a rival family obtains Cheonhwangdo, that becomes a problem, does it not? To prepare for every eventuality, I believe it most proper that our house be the one to claim it.”
Namgung Gunchun was not wrong. But from his son’s words, Namgung Cheonwu realized the boy did not carry the absolute confidence that the Namgung Family was supreme. A true scion of Namgung ought to be able to part the sea and pierce the sky with pride alone.
Disappointment flashed through Namgung Cheonwu’s eyes and vanished as quickly as it came.
Namgung Ho-u looked to the Family Head and asked,
“Family Head, for the path of the family, please make your decision.”
“Hmm… To make matters clear, it would be best to announce everything to the Central Plains.”
The Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident was no longer a secret. Many sects already knew of it and simply chose silence. The reason was simple. Outwardly, no one could raise an issue—because the six families involved were simply too strong.
But the Namgung Family decided to lay bare the secret they had kept for nearly thirty years. Even if they were cursed for it, they would show that they had nothing to do with the Cheonhwangdo Map.
Namgung Dongwu agreed.
“If the truth of the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident becomes known throughout the martial world, there is no real problem. We will hear unpleasant talk for a time, but it seems a chance to cast everything off and move on.”
“I am of the same mind as both of you.”
Namgung Gunchun also favored announcing it to the Central Plains. Only one man remained silent, lips pressed together—Namgung Hyeonwu.
“Hyeonwu. Are you opposed?”
“If all are in favor, of course I must follow as well. What concerns me is the chaos that will rise in the martial world once the truth of the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident is known.”
“Chaos… That may well happen. But those who run wild are empty carts making the most noise, are they not?”
Namgung Cheonwu continued,
“Chaos and confusion will settle with time. And a little noise is good for our family’s position. Hyeonwu—understand me this once. To cast off the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident, we must do things we would rather not.”
Namgung Hyeonwu understood the Family Head’s meaning. Before any greater cause, the family and the family’s interests came first.
“Understood.”
“Good. Then, Dongwu, as soon as this council ends, make our family’s will known to the martial world.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
“And send letters to the other five families. It would be well to meet and speak once.”
“Yes. I will dispatch messengers to the five families at once.”
After the Changgung Five-Person Council ended, all but Namgung Hyeonwu hurried back to their own quarters.
Namgung Cheonwu lifted his teacup, then set it down again and said,
“The Nine Great Sects especially will scramble to use this opportunity.”
“If we stand with a clear conscience, there is no need to be swayed by others’ eyes. We simply act as we always have.”
“A tiresome business.”
“Heh heh. Are you worried?”
“Worried? Not at all. The others are fine—it’s that damned Taoist on Mount Hua who will get on my nerves.”
“You mean the Lotus Sword Immortal? Well… that will be a headache.”
“A Taoist who cultivates the Dao, yet his heart is so petty. I still don’t know how he ever climbed Mount Hua and learned martial arts.”
Namgung Hyeonwu smiled as he watched the man grumble. The person he spoke of was the rival and known adversary of the Sword Emperor Namgung Cheonwu—the Lotus Sword Immortal of the Mount Hua Sect, Daoist Hayu.
“Elder Brother, if anyone starts spouting nonsense, there is no need for you to endure it.”
“Heh heh. True. You know my temper best of all, Hyeonwu.”
Looking at the man’s bright laugh, many thoughts crossed Namgung Hyeonwu’s mind.
In the end, in every matter, only the family’s interests matter.
Namgung Cheonwu poured tea and asked,
“Hyeonwu—has there been any word from nephew Uncheon, who went to Hefei?”
“No, Elder Brother.”
Uncheon had vanished without a word while returning alone from Hefei, and there had been no news since.
“Don’t worry overmuch. The boy earned the title Cheongryu Geomhyang the moment he stepped into the jianghu, did he not? Against all our fretting, he’s probably getting along just fine somewhere ridiculous.”
“I’m not worried either. Thank you for your concern, Elder Brother.”
“The Biryu Hall is searching for him as well. Word should come soon enough.”
“He’s almost certainly gotten himself absorbed in something absurd.”
“Heh heh. Then all the better.”
A son who wished to leave the family. Namgung Hyeonwu quietly lifted his teacup.
Leaving the family… living as he pleases… might not be so bad after all…
The Namgung Family formally announced to the martial world the truth of the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident that had taken place twenty-five years earlier.
That a secret force had made them aware of the Cheonhwangdo Map; that all six families had moved on the Baekcheon Sect, but the Namgung Family had withdrawn at once without finding the map; and that the following day, the Baekcheon Sect had been annihilated.
The story that left Mount Hwangshan spread through the entire Central Plains.
“So the Baekcheon Sect was wiped out because of the Cheonhwangdo Map!”
“Of course the six great families would set their eyes on a Cheonhwangdo Map.”
“They say the family that took the map wasn’t the Namgung Family.”
“Ohh… Then one of the other five must have it?”
Whenever people of the Central Plains gathered, talk turned to the Cheonhwangdo Map. Hearing that the legendary treasure vault of the ancient Central Plains Empire truly existed, countless people across the land began to run wild in search of Cheonhwangdo.
False rumors flew from every direction—where Cheonhwangdo lay, who knew its secret.
…Ridiculous rumors are flying everywhere.
Uncheon sat in the inn, listening to the clamor of people clustered together talking.
The family announced the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident first. It might look like they’re dodging responsibility… but if the family wants to cast the whole affair aside completely, taking the blame first is a sound approach.
And the absurd rumors didn’t stop there. Word was circulating that the man who killed Yeojugae was Wolyeonggwangheun Dokjeonhwa. The Beggars’ Sect had branded him an enemy of the martial world and slapped a bounty of fifty golden taels on his head.
Bait enough to draw every gaze in the Central Plains.
If we move like this, we’re bound to get caught.