Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Training and Taibai Wine
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Hearing, in fact, allows one to perceive far more than seeing.
Events too distant to be seen, or landscapes beyond a wall.
Having experienced a state of selflessness and opened his ears while staying at the Cheonga Inn, Neung Un-bi was gradually entering a new realm.
A world perceived not by eyes, but by ears.
Captivated by this novel sensation, Neung Un-bi dedicated all his time to training.
It was the same on the road to Tianyang, their next destination after leaving the Cheonga Inn. Even on horseback, he kept his eyes closed, seeing the world through his ears.
With Neung Un-bi riding with his eyes shut, their progress was naturally slow.
But what did it matter?
The joy of having every sound of man and nature become a brush, painting various images in his mind, was too great…
In the process, he realized for the first time.
That the sounds of day and night were different.
"He's not sleeping, is he?"
"No way. He must be training."
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung exchanged their usual dim-witted conversation.
*Right next to me, and you think whispering will keep me from hearing?*
"Incredible. I didn't expect him to show this kind of focus…"
Hyang-i marveled while munching on corn the whole time.
And for good reason.
Since leaving the Cheonga Inn, he hadn't opened his closed eyes even once.
Despite that, the night scene of the inn where they stopped for a brief rest was vivid in his mind.
Doesn't it seem faintly visible even now?
The sounds of snorting and hooves pawing the ground transformed into the image of horses resting, tied to their posts.
Creeak.
The friction of the hinges painted a picture of a door opening.
"Welcome."
It wasn't just objects; the resonant voice of the innkeeper who greeted them suggested a portly build.
"The Sun and Moon Flag! Those Demonic Cult bastards!"
The voice of someone shouting in anger upon seeing the displayed flag.
The harsh clatter of chopsticks on a table and loud footsteps indicated that someone had risen from their seat and was approaching quickly.
Swoosh!
Then, the sound of wind rustling as something brushed past from behind.
Fwip!
Hearing the flutter of clothes, it must have been wide sleeves…
Among his companions, only Un Hak, in his Daoist robe, could make such a sound.
"For the peace of the Central Plains!"
Though he didn't understand the meaning of those words, Un Hak leaped into the inn and threw a punch at the approaching man.
Thwack!
But his training in listening was still insufficient; he couldn't perceive the movements themselves.
There was clearly a dispute.
For a moment, curious about what was happening, he squeezed shut the eyes he was about to open.
He had to listen with his ears.
To perceive the entire situation through sound.
He had to grasp everything from the sound of feet on the ground and the sound of air being displaced by movement.
Neung Un-bi stood still, facing the world with his ears like a blind man.
"You damn long-nosed bastard! How dare you side with the Demonic Cult!"
Along with the voice, he heard the sound of air being sharply cut.
Shiiik!
A horizontal slash.
Un Hak dodged and extended his hand.
A faint sound of displaced air created a chaotic whisper of wind.
The sound didn't spread, remaining in one spot.
A grappling art?
Yes, that was definitely a grappling art.
Taaang!
Rather than dodging, he flicked the sword away, and a hand that seemed to brush past the blade seized someone's wrist.
Thwack!
Then came a thud.
Too soft to be someone falling over.
It was concentrated in one spot, so it must have been the sound of a knee hitting the wooden floor.
"I apologize for the excessive force. It was unavoidable for the peace of the Central Plains, so please forgive me. Amitabha."
"..."
*Just what is this 'peace of the Central Plains'...?*
While Neung Un-bi tilted his head in confusion, Un Hak, having subdued the man who had brandished his sword without warning, shouted to the crowd.
"I am Un Hak of the Mount Hua Sect! I ask my fellow martial artists to refrain from any rash actions!"
At his words, a murmur erupted from all around.
Perhaps because Un Hak's identity was not one to be taken lightly, no one else lunged forward.
And Neung Un-bi listened intently to each and every one of those many sounds.
Through the volume, direction, and location of the sounds, he could roughly gauge their positions, and the figures of the crowd inside the inn seemed to paint themselves in his mind.
He felt a thrilling sense of ecstasy.
It was a world he had never experienced before.
After their meal, they spent the day as usual, and Neung Un-bi, with his eyes closed the entire time, reveled in the ecstasy of his new experience.
He enjoyed the clattering of plates during the meal and the busy clicking of chopsticks.
Crunch, smack.
"..."
*This is a bit…*
Pfft, poot.
*D-damn it! Hearing isn't always a good thing. So disgusting while I'm eating…*
But now, he had to move on to the next stage.
Hyang-i had said he needed to hear all sounds and then distinguish only the ones he wanted to hear.
The sounds he needed to hear.
"Wang Cheon."
"Yes?"
"You should train."
"Train?"
"Yes."
After a moment's hesitation, Wang Cheon's voice was tinged with annoyance.
"At this time of night?"
"..."
"We've been riding all day, what's with training now? I'm dead tired…"
At the flat refusal, Neung Un-bi's brow furrowed slightly.
*Damn brat…*
*He says he wants to get stronger, yet he's picky about when to train.*
"Ju Seung! You do it, then."
"...Um, my lord."
"What? You don't want to either?"
"I know it's an order, but there are too many eyes here. Training in the Demonic Cult's martial arts where members of the Orthodox Faction are present... Please reconsider."
"Hmm…"
He wasn't wrong. Showing one's martial arts training to others was taboo for martial artists.
Especially in the territory of the Orthodox Faction, it was even more of a concern.
But even if he understood, he didn't want to give up.
"Then, Hyang-i."
"Not doing it."
"..."
She also refused flatly.
*Damn kids.*
*I just want to hear some sounds, just some sounds!*
*I'm trying to train my hearing through the sounds of your movements, and you won't even help me this much?*
After a moment of thought, Neung Un-bi abruptly stood up.
"Where are you going? It's late."
"Follow me. We're moving."
"Huh?"
"You need a place with no one around to train, don't you?"
"..."
"You guys said you wanted to learn from Hyang-i, right?"
"Well…"
"Go find a spot where no one can see us."
At Neung Un-bi's words, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung looked at each other, their eyes sparkling.
No matter how tired they were, if they could receive instruction from Hyang-i?
"Why are you dragging me into this? I said I'm not doing it."
"..."
He had just managed to persuade the two of them, but now Hyang-i was holding out.
"I'll grant you one more favor!"
"Don't need it! Two is enough."
"..."
*This little…*
But would he give up? Considering her recent behavior, the method most likely to work was…
"Hey, have you ever heard of Taibai wine from Shaanxi?"
"Taibai wine?"
Hyang-i tilted her head and asked back, and Neung Un-bi detected the sound of her gulping down saliva.
*Such a precocious kid…*
*Gulping at the name of a wine she just tried for the first time yesterday.*
They say a monk who tastes meat will become a cattle thief, and that was Hyang-i to a tee.
After coming to the Central Plains and tasting the food, she had turned into a complete glutton.
"It's a very rare, famous wine. Un Hak probably knows about it, right?"
When Neung Un-bi mentioned Un Hak, Hyang-i whipped her head around to look at him.
"Hmm... It's an excellent wine. So much so that even the great poet Li Bai of a past era praised it. Its taste is... refreshing, I'd say?"
"I-Is that so?"
Hearing even Un Hak give it such a glowing review, Hyang-i swallowed again.
"However, it's incredibly expensive. These days, there aren't even any brewers making it, so its rarity has increased."
"...Ah!"
At Un Hak's added explanation, Hyang-i's face fell.
"I'll buy it for you!"
"Huh?"
"Who am I? I'm the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult! When we reach the cult's branch in Shaanxi, I'll squeeze their finances dry if I have to, but I'll definitely buy it for you."
"...R-Really?"
"A man's word is worth a thousand pieces of gold. As long as you train those two!"
"...What about side dishes?"
"Goes without saying!"
"Deal!"
At Neung Un-bi's firm promise, Hyang-i clenched her fists and stood up.
"Hey! What are you two doing?"
"Yes?"
"Get moving, now! Or are you not going to train?!"
"...Yessir!"
And so, the training was decided.
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung, who were about to receive instruction from a supreme master like Hyang-i, were ecstatic, and Neung Un-bi, who could now accelerate his auditory training, couldn't help but feel pleased.
A bottle of Taibai wine.
*No matter how expensive, it's still just wine.*
* * *
Five days after they began training.
Neung Un-bi had the merchant caravan stay at an inn while he, along with the Lunar Eclipse Squad, chose a secluded spot to camp for the night.
Un Hak followed them, but it wasn't a particular concern.
They had agreed to stay separate during training.
Still, he was a man who understood etiquette, so he didn't resort to the shameless act of hiding and watching them secretly.
No, even if he tried, how could he possibly evade Hyang-i's keen senses?
Furthermore, Un Hak took it upon himself to handle any disturbances.
He would later learn that Un Hak had been concerned about potential friction between Neung Un-bi's group and the people of the Central Plains.
Thus, he preemptively blocked any fights before they could break out.
Even though there was no need for it…
Always going on about the peace of the Central Plains…
In any case, thanks to him, Neung Un-bi and his companions could travel during the day and devote themselves to training at night.
Fatigue?
What was that?
Weren't they members of the Demonic Cult, who would chew and swallow stones if it meant getting stronger?
The teachings of a master like Hyang-i were not an opportunity that came often, so Ju Seung and Wang Cheon threw themselves into their training with passion.
It hadn't been long, but their teacher was no ordinary person.
Wang Cheon's and Ju Seung's skills improved day by day.
The Lunar Eclipse Squad was not one to sit idly by either.
Their Guard Captain, the Squad Leader, and beside them, their own lord—all were engrossed in daily training.
And so, the group was gradually growing stronger.
Not just Neung Un-bi, but Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the Lunar Eclipse Squad as well.
So much so that they looked completely different from when they had first arrived in the Central Plains.
Their journey was slightly delayed because of it, but Un Hak guided them through a shortcut, saving them three or four days, so there was no major issue.
And before they knew it, they had reached the depths of Shaanxi.
The Nakmyeong Merchant Caravan, led by O Deung, had finally arrived at its destination.
"Third Young Master, it has been an honor to escort you this far."
"..."
At O Deung's farewell, Neung Un-bi smiled brightly and nodded.
His eyes were open, of course.
He had to struggle for a while to adjust to the flood of light, but it would have been rude to keep his eyes closed at the moment of parting.
"Thanks to you, we also had a comfortable journey. I hope you make a handsome profit."
"Thank you. And this is…"
O Deung took a money pouch from his robes and offered it.
"What's this? I thought the payment for the escort contract was already given to the Qilian branch."
"A small token of my sincerity."
"Sincerity?"
"Yes. In the hopes that you, Third Young Master, will remember the name of our Nakmyeong Merchant Caravan in the future…"
O Deung smiled brightly and placed the pouch in Neung Un-bi's hand.
*The future…*
Neung Un-bi let out a soft chuckle.
Merchants sometimes invest in tangible goods, but they also invest in potential.
The potential he was investing in was Neung Un-bi's future.
In other words, he hoped Neung Un-bi would remember his caravan in preparation for the day he might become the Cult Leader.
Unfortunately, though, he had no intention of becoming the Cult Leader…
"Please don't feel burdened. I didn't mean anything by it."
"Very well. I'll accept it. And I will carve the name Nakmyeong into my memory."
"Thank you, Third Young Master."
"Don't mention it…"
Neung Un-bi was sincere.
He would remember it. Even if he didn't become the Cult Leader.
"Well then."
After bidding farewell once more, O Deung departed with his caravan.
"Phew…"
The world, encountered with his eyes instead of his ears for the first time in a while, looked different.
People coming and going in the city, the countless buildings…
"Third Young Master."
"...?"
While he was leisurely observing the world, Hyang-i approached him with a determined look.
"You got some money?"
"Hm?"
Staring at the pouch in Neung Un-bi's hand, Hyang-i glanced at a nearby inn.
"You want to go to the inn?"
"We've been camping for days. We haven't eaten properly, haven't slept properly... After working us that hard, huh? A person should have some decency, don't you think?"
"..."
Faced with an expression that threatened a full-blown tantrum if he refused, Neung Un-bi chuckled again.
At times like this, she was just like a little sister.
"Alright, let's go. Everyone worked hard teaching and learning, so let's take a good rest and eat something delicious today."
Fwoosh!
Had she been waiting for Neung Un-bi to finish speaking?
Hyang-i shot into the inn in a single bound.
"Here! Wine! Food! Bathwater!"
"..."
Hearing her excited voice, too agitated to even form a proper sentence, Neung Un-bi smiled and shook his head.
Right, it's been a while since we were in a city, hasn't it? It's fine to take a short break.
What's the rush? For now, it was more than enough that he had grasped a clue to reaching a new realm.
Besides!
Windfall money is best spent lavishly.