Chapter 50
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Taoist from Wudang Mountain (2)
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"Did I say you were pathetic?"
The Great Heavenly Demon glared at me, exuding a bone-chilling killing intent. It seemed those words had stuck with him.
But by now, death held no fear for me—not terror, not dread.
The only thing burning inside was boundless rage at the thought of him taking over my body.
"Who else was there besides me?"
"It seems you're not afraid of death."
"It's just infuriating to lose my body to you. You know what, Great Heavenly Demon? The moment you try to seize it, I'll choose death myself. I will never hand my body over to you."
It was my last remaining choice—my final shred of pride.
Kukukuku...
"Don't make threats like that too often. Repeat them enough, and they'll weigh less than a feather."
The terrifying killing intent, which had seemed ready to cleave me in two, slowly receded.
I couldn't fathom the Great Heavenly Demon's sudden whim.
But I had no desire to question why he'd withdrawn it.
"What connection do you have with that shadowy figure called Am-sa who attacked the Seok Family before, and the witch who tried to kill me and Gwang-u this morning?"
The Great Heavenly Demon answered my question readily.
"I know nothing of some lowly worm called Am-sa. But that wench's Suction Demon Art this morning? I'm quite familiar with it. How could I forget the martial arts of the woman who once served under me? I wanted to capture her alive and learn how she came by it. But you, clueless fool, went and killed her without a second thought. Pathetic."
"I wanted nothing more to do with the jianghu martial world. That's why I killed her on the spot."
Kuhahaha...
"You think you get to decide that? As long as I remain, you'll never escape the jianghu."
"Argh. Damn it!"
The curse slipped out unbidden.
As long as he didn't vanish, I'd never break free from the jianghu—a hopeless quagmire I could never escape.
The Great Heavenly Demon kept laughing as he eyed my grim despair.
"You know how to make me disappear, don't you? Kill me. Surpass me, and you can end me for good."
Easier said than done. How could anyone surpass that demon?
No matter how I struggled, it felt impossible to overtake him.
Just when I thought I'd closed the gap, he'd pull ahead, looming even larger.
"When the Daoist from Wudang Mountain arrives, it'll be the end of you."
Kuhahaha...
"I'll look forward to it."
Gwang-u entered the house with Family Head Seok Yang-ho.
I had just finished breakfast and was about to wash the dishes.
"Welcome, Family Head."
"I've come to pay my respects, Hero Go."
I bowed to greet Seok Yang-ho, but he dropped to his knees on the floor.
"What is this, Family Head?"
Seok Yang-ho pushed away my hand as I tried to help him up in surprise.
Then he pressed both hands to the floor and bowed deeply.
"You've done our family another great favor. As family head, I have no face left to show you."
"It wasn't for the Seok Family. Some unknown woman tried to kill me, so I dealt with her as I had to."
"But if you hadn't slain her, I wouldn't even have known who my enemy was."
Now that he mentioned it, that rang true.
The family head only rose after I reluctantly nodded in acknowledgment.
"Would you like to come inside for some tea? I have something to tell you about the Seok Family's Sixteen Swords."
Seok Yang-ho's eyes widened in shock as he hurried after me into the room.
I shooed Gwang-u—who was following the family head—back outside.
"You go do the dishes."
"Why me? I haven't even eaten here..."
"And? You don't want to?"
"No... it's not that I don't want to..."
Gwang-u paused at the door to the room and headed to the kitchen instead.
"Brew some tea first."
After asking him to handle the tea in the kitchen, I opened a wooden chest in the corner and pulled out a scroll of paper.
Seok Yang-ho watched silently, his face tense with anticipation.
"I've deciphered the manual and organized it on this scroll."
I handed the paper scroll to Seok Yang-ho.
His eyes clouded over as he stared at the scroll containing his family's martial arts manual, tears soon streaming down his face.
His trembling hands took the scroll. He steadied his ragged breaths for a moment.
Huu...
Composing himself, Seok Yang-ho set the scroll on the table without even unrolling it. He rose, knelt, and prostrated himself on the floor.
"Our family's cherished dream... thanks to Hero Go, we can finally achieve it."
The floorboards quickly grew wet with the family head's tears.
I could sense the depth of his emotion.
"Even with a detailed breakdown, the words alone won't let you master the swordsmanship properly. When Gwang-u returns, I'll demonstrate it personally with the sword."
"I don't know how to repay such immense grace. Even if you asked for our family itself, I'd hand it over without hesitation."
I shook my head with a smile.
"Please, rise and sit."
Seok Yang-ho quietly stood and took his seat.
"Actually, I have a favor to ask."
"Speak it. I'd give you my entire fortune."
Hahaha...
"I don't need your fortune. What I'm asking for isn't silver or wealth—it's Gwang-u."
"What do you mean?"
"To be precise, what do you think of Gwang-u?"
Family Head Seok Yang-ho looked at me with puzzled eyes.
I cut straight to the point without further delay.
"Gwang-u has feelings for your daughter, the young lady of the Seok Family."
Seok Yang-ho's dark eyes widened enormously.
But the surprise faded quickly, fine lines creasing the corners of his eyes.
Seeing that expression eased my mind considerably.
"To think that Instructor Seok, a master of the world, has taken a liking to my unworthy daughter... I'm deeply grateful just to hear it."
As Seok Yang-ho continued, I heard footsteps—Gwang-u returning from the dishes in the kitchen.
I pressed a finger to my lips and smiled.
Family Head Seok Yang-ho caught the meaning and nodded with a quiet smile.
Hurried footsteps approached, and the door burst open.
"Bro. Dishes are done. What were you talking about with the family head? You weren't badmouthing me, were you?"
Gwang-u flung the door wide and charged into the room.
Whew!
Looking at his suspicious face, all I could muster was a sigh.
Hehehe...
As the family head laughed, I shook my head and stood.
"Shall we go out? I'll show you the swordsmanship."
"Thank you, Hero Go."
Myeong-gak, having arrived at the Zhuge Family and sent an urgent message to Wudang Mountain, tried to hurry back to Huanin County.
But the Zhuge Family wouldn't let him leave so easily.
"If you leave our family like this, we'll be mocked by the jianghu. Stay a few days and rest before you go."
Myeong-gak dearly wanted to rest, eat, and drink at the Zhuge Family before departing.
But his burning curiosity about that one man spurred him onward.
"I appreciate the offer, but I have urgent business. Delaying here would ruin it. Namo Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."
As Myeong-gak turned to leave with palms pressed together in farewell, a voice called from behind.
"Did you send a message to Daoist Qingfeng?"
Recognizing the voice, Myeong-gak's face lit up.
Puhahaha...
"Spot on, Lady Zhuge."
Zhuge Ji knew Myeong-gak's temperament well.
Insatiably curious, he loved wandering the world. Overflowing with compassion, he couldn't ignore the pitiful.
He'd sometimes swindle or steal, but never used the gains for himself.
"I see. Calling in even Daoist Qingfeng means it's something truly important. Care to tell me what?"
Myeong-gak flashed a meaningful smile.
He'd already guessed that Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye shared some connection with that enigmatic figure. He couldn't resist teasing.
"This monk heads to Huanin County, Lady Zhuge."
Zhuge Ji's bright expression hardened briefly.
Confirmed in his suspicions, Myeong-gak amped up the mischief.
"This monk is staying at a hunter's home by the riverbank. The scenery is spectacular—visit if you have time, Lady Zhuge."
Zhuge Ji struggled to calm her pounding heart.
How did Myeong-gak know about Go Un-san?
If this curious, powerful young monk knew him, then Shaolin's Divine Monks surely did too.
'This is bad.'
Go Un-san disliked fame in the jianghu.
If the martial world learned of him, he'd vanish elsewhere—and that was the last thing she wanted.
"...Very well."
Despite her efforts to hide her unease, her voice wavered slightly.
"Until next time, then. Namo Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."
Myeong-gak departed the Zhuge Family's gates with palms together.
After a few steps, he paused, turned back as if struck by a thought.
"This morning as I left my lodgings, the world's most beautiful maiden was heading into that house."
Zhuge Ji's barely composed face stiffened visibly.
A glint flashed in Myeong-gak's eyes.
'Just as I thought? This is going to be far more entertaining than I imagined.'
Si Wang-yu hurried into the market, his hair hanging loose to hide his face, clad in ragged clothes to conceal his identity.
He slipped into a dim alley, weaving through the twisting paths.
"Damn..."
The maze-like streets led him back to the bustling market.
Si Wang-yu turned and plunged into another shadowy alley.
'Where the hell is the Red Wall?'
After nearly half a shichen of wandering, a dead-end alley bathed in red light appeared before him.
'Is this it?'
The blocking wall was red, but he wasn't certain.
Si Wang-yu approached the end slowly.
A small hole pierced the center of the wall.
'Found it. This is the place.'
Confirming the hole, he knew this was where requests went to the Death Gate.
Then, a thin voice emanated from within.
"What request do you have?"
Tension gripped Si Wang-yu; he couldn't respond immediately.
First time commissioning the Death Gate—he didn't know the protocol.
He'd heard the method and location from his father, but never imagined coming himself.
"State your request."
Urged again from inside, Si Wang-yu finally spoke.
"I want information."
"What information?"
"There's a big burly hunter with the Seok Family. I want to know his connection to them."
Si Wang-yu made his request, but silence answered from within.