Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Encounter
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How long did the silence last?
Cheong Jin, who had been watching Jin San, burst into a hearty laugh and waved his hands dismissively.
“Hahaha. My goodness… Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Huh?”
“Isn’t Dam Un-cheon’s disciple at my residence near Hagwon?”
“He is.”
“Then there’s no way they could meet. My master will surely come straight to Lotus Peak. Because of this sword.”
As if to reassure him once more, Cheong Jin held out Hyeon Cheon’s beloved sword, Ja-o.
“But what if… what if by some one-in-a-million chance he goes to Hagwon?”
“I told you, that’s impossible. Do you know how far it is between Lotus Peak and Joyang Peak, even if they look close? Besides, do you think I, who have spent a lifetime by his side, don’t know my master’s personality? He never gives up on something he has set his mind on.”
“I… suppose so?”
“Of course! It’s only natural.”
At Cheong Jin’s repeated assurances, Jin San finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed his worries had been for naught.
“Phew… Well, if you say so, then it must be true.”
“It seems you’ve become quite the worrier in your old age. I’m the same way, you know? I nag far too much. When I watch the young ones, there’s always something that bothers me. Whatever they do seems lacking, whatever they do makes me anxious.”
“Well, we have gotten quite old.”
“Indeed. These days, I consider trying to reduce my nagging and worrying as a form of training. I wonder if my path to ascension lies there.”
“Haha, surely your path to ascension doesn't lie in that.”
Laughing at what he considered Cheong Jin's silly remark, Jin San found himself reminiscing about the past, his worries forgotten.
“We’ve gotten so old already. There was a time when we were full of vigor… Now it’s hard to find anyone from the generation above us.”
“That’s true. It happened before we knew it. It feels like we just blinked…”
“Do you remember? The day we went to find Dam Un-cheon, claiming we had finally perfected our swordsmanship, when all we had was superficial skill without any inner cultivation?”
“We did. We were overflowing with nothing but reckless energy. If Dam Un-cheon hadn't gone easy on us back then, we would have been dead long ago.”
“Still, we learned a lot. I never imagined we would receive teachings from a member of the Demonic Cult.”
“Wasn’t he always that kind of person? I don’t know what my master thinks, but he was truly a remarkable man.”
“You’re right. If he hadn’t been bound by the guise of the Demonic Cult, he surely would have become a hero praised for generations…”
“I suppose so. My master sometimes said something similar.”
“Like what?”
“Even though he despised Dam Un-cheon, he would occasionally praise him. He said that if it weren’t for the damnable Demonic Cult, he would have gladly befriended him as a soulmate for life.”
“Haha… In the end, it was because of the wall created by the shackles of the Demonic Cult and the Orthodox Faction.”
“Yes… Weren't the generations before us locked in a fierce struggle?”
“So much so that the peace we have now is almost unbelievable…”
“Come to think of it, this peace might not have been possible without Dam Un-cheon.”
“It’s likely. If he hadn’t suppressed the Demonic Cult with his power, disaster would have struck long ago.”
Cheong Jin and Jin San reminisced about Dam Un-cheon, sharing the memories they held.
“Oh! What is that boy, Neung Un-bi, like?”
“Hmm?”
“We have to wait for my master to arrive anyway, so instead of sitting around bored, let’s talk about him. Un Hak praised him so much that I was getting curious.”
“Hmph…”
At Cheong Jin’s urging, Jin San wore a pleased expression.
It was always like this when he thought of Neung Un-bi. Though a disciple of the Demonic Cult, his demeanor seemed more suited to the Orthodox Faction than anyone else, which was deeply satisfying.
“He’s an interesting fellow. Strong, meticulous…”
“Oh? Is that so? Do you mean he’s a cunning tyrant?”
“A tyrant? Haha, you could see him that way, but no.”
“No?”
“That’s right. He has the qualities of a virtuous hero rather than a cunning one.”
“A disciple of the Demonic Cult?”
“You’ve heard, haven’t you? What that boy did when he came to the Central Plains?”
“I have. The incident with the Heavenly Pillar Gate, and how he helped those suffering from famine caused by a drought… I heard the King of the Green Forest was quite humiliated, wasn't he?”
“You’ll see. You’ll understand as soon as you meet him.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely! That kid is truly one of a kind. It’s like he has the power to inspire people.”
“Inspire?”
“Yes. Aren’t there people like that? People who can command the atmosphere and lift everyone’s spirits just by being present.”
“That’s quite high praise, coming from you.”
“That man, Dam Un-cheon, raised his disciple well. So well that it makes me jealous…”
Jin San openly expressed his fondness for Neung Un-bi, and Cheong Jin smiled and nodded throughout.
***
The Sword Saint’s residence.
A small, old hermitage situated on a flat part of the rocky mountain.
It was exceedingly humble compared to the Sword Saint’s reputation, but in a way, it suited him well.
This is how a master of the Orthodox Faction and a Taoist should be. Frugal, upright…
The Cheong Jin he knew seemed to have the same personality as ever.
He suddenly recalled the man nagging him, trying to persuade him to stop his killing sprees, and a smile formed on his lips.
“Food! Give me food! I said food! When the hell are you going to feed me?!”
“…”
Neung Un-bi, who had been lost in reminiscence, was jolted back to his senses by the roar of a hungry beast.
The hungry beast, Hyang-i…
After coming to the Central Plains and tasting its cuisine, she had turned into a glutton. It was understandable that she would throw such a fit, having not eaten a proper meal since arriving at Mount Hua.
But still. For a guest in someone else’s home to cause such a ruckus.
And in a sacred Taoist place, where one was meant to polish their mind like a clear mirror and still water…
“Food! Alcohol! Bring it out! Now!”
“…”
Hah, if only he were skilled enough, he wanted to smack her on the head.
“Hyang-i, be patient. Un Hak has been busy preparing it for a while now.”
“Food! Alcohol! Bring it out! I’m starving to death!”
He tried his best to soothe her, but it seemed she wouldn’t quiet down until something was stuffed into that hungry maw of hers.
“Glutton.”
“What? You piglet!”
Of course, even in the midst of her rampage, she didn’t forget to bicker with Ung-hyeon.
Seen that way, Ung-hyeon was also quite remarkable.
Could he not feel Hyang-i’s aura?
Or was he just trusting in his innate divine strength?
He was going to get seriously hurt one of these days…
He was already starting to worry. He wondered if he should give him a heads-up about Hyang-i.
“My lady! My lady!”
“...!”
Just as Neung Un-bi was lost in thought, Un Hak’s voice came from outside.
“Un Hak!”
As if she had been waiting, Hyang-i threw open the door and rushed out.
*Crack!*
“Food!”
The way she lunged at the sight of the dining table was like a flash of lightning.
It seemed she had been waiting for a long time. There was no need to use lightness techniques…
By the way, was the door broken? Didn’t that sound rather ominous?
Just as he was checking the door Hyang-i had thrown open, a sudden chill ran down his spine, and Neung Un-bi whipped his head around.
“Hey! Are you messing with me?”
“…*Gack, cough, cough*, M-My lady, why are you suddenly doing this?”
What was this?
Hyang-i, who had rushed out like a madwoman at the sight of food, was suddenly gripping Un Hak tightly by the throat.
And what was with that terrifying killing intent?
He didn’t know the reason, but he felt he had to stop her.
This was Mount Hua, of all places. What would the Taoists think if they saw a member of the Demonic Cult holding the Sword Saint’s disciple by the neck?
“H-Hyang-i! I don’t know what’s going on, but let go of him… huh?”
As Neung Un-bi approached the table to stop her, he immediately understood why she was so angry.
The meal Un Hak had prepared. A table filled to the brim with dishes.
Vegetables, and more vegetables, and still more vegetables, vegetables, vegetables, and seasoned greens. Edible plants from the mountains and fields, boiled or stir-fried, then seasoned and mixed.
The description was long, but in short, it was all greens.
No wonder she was angry…
Shouldn’t there be at least one piece of meat to make one’s mouth water?
Come to think of it, he remembered what Jin San had said on their way up the mountain.
—It might not be what you expect…
So this is what he meant.
After all, wasn’t the Mount Hua Sect a Taoist sect?
They didn’t forbid eating meat, but they didn’t indulge in it either. It was a matter of moderation.
Therefore, seasoned greens would be their staple side dishes, and naturally, the food they were most confident in making.
From that perspective, Un Hak had truly done his best to treat his guests.
With the food he could make most deliciously.
It just wasn’t to Hyang-i’s liking.
“Is this really all there is?”
“*Gasp*.”
“I asked if this is all!”
Seeing Hyang-i exude such a murderous aura over a plate of greens, Neung Un-bi thought for a moment.
To calm this glutton…
“Oh? This is delicious.”
“Huh?”
Neung Un-bi quickly picked up some greens and ate them, his eyes widening in surprise.
It wasn’t an exaggeration; it was genuinely delicious.
“How can greens taste this good?”
“What?”
Her interest piqued by Neung Un-bi’s exclamation, Hyang-i whipped her head around.
“As expected of a sect of ascetics, their cooking skills are no joke.”
“R-Really?”
As if to drive the point home to the now-attentive Hyang-i, Ung-hyeon also quickly sat down and picked up his chopsticks.
*Chomp, chomp-chomp-chomp!*
Then he began to empty the plates in an instant.
“Huh? Hey, hey!”
As the food began to disappear rapidly at the hands of the equally gluttonous Ung-hyeon, Hyang-i’s pupils trembled.
“Hey! Stop right there!”
*Chomp-chomp-chomp! Chomp-chomp!*
“This little pig!”
Feeling a sense of crisis, Hyang-i immediately let go of Un Hak, sat at the table, and began to inhale the greens.
“Ooooh! So good!”
“…”
He didn’t know what kind of taste that was, but he could finally relax.
“Alcohol!”
“Ah, I’ve already prepared some.”
Her mood instantly improved, and Un Hak promptly placed a bottle of alcohol in Hyang-i’s outstretched hand.
What a relief. She had finally quieted down.
That damned glutton… At this rate, he would have to worry about the quality of the food wherever they went.
“Phew.”
“Huh? Where are you going? If you don’t eat now, that pig is going to eat your share too.”
“…”
He’s just making excuses so he can eat it all himself.
“You guys eat. I’m going to stop by Hagijeong Pavilion for some fresh air.”
“Go ahead.”
Hyang-i glanced at the distant Hagijeong Pavilion, nodded, and focused back on her food.
She probably thought it was a distance she could manage.
Besides, what danger could there be when they were already guests here?
Leaving them to their meal, Neung Un-bi stepped outside and walked toward Hagijeong Pavilion.
A path so narrow that only one person could pass followed the ridge. One misstep, and you’d plummet a thousand feet down the cliff. It truly deserved its reputation as the most treacherous place on Mount Hua.
But the sun was still bright, and for Neung Un-bi, whose lightness techniques were second to none, it was hardly a problem.
Besides, what could be better than reminiscing about his past self?
With light steps, Neung Un-bi leisurely crossed the narrow, rocky ridge and arrived at a small pavilion built on the peak.
Hagijeong Pavilion.
Below the small peak, a sea of clouds flowed, filling the landscape in a truly magnificent display.
“I used to think it was just a pavilion. But it really is a place where you could believe the legends of immortals descending to play Go… it’s… huh?”
As Neung Un-bi was admiring the sea of clouds, a strange feeling made him look toward a certain spot.
It was an old man.
With an appearance that made it impossible to guess his age, he was looking at him with eyes that shone with a clear, sharp light.
He didn’t look like someone from Mount Hua…
“A-An immortal, perhaps!?”
Startled, Neung Un-bi blinked, and the old man tilted his head and asked.
“Boy, what… are you?”