Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Pride of Huashan
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“Gaaargh!”
With a horrific scream, Paeng Mu-wi’s limbs convulsed as if struck by lightning.
Beom Gye-wi slowly withdrew his arm.
As he pulled his arm out completely, slick with fresh blood, Paeng Mu-wi’s body collapsed to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut.
Just before he drew his last breath.
Paeng Mu-wi belatedly realized something.
“So… that’s it. You’re…”
With those final words, Paeng Mu-wi’s breathing ceased.
Staggering to his feet, Sa Mu-sim bowed respectfully to Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.
“This junior of the martial world, Sa Mu-sim, greets the two Venerable Evils.”
Venerable Evil was an honorific used to address the few grandmaster-level martial artists in the entire unorthodox faction. He called them that because, regardless of seniority, they possessed the most outstanding martial skills in the unorthodox world.
“How did you know?”
At Beom Gye-wi’s question, Sa Mu-sim answered respectfully.
“An uncommon physique and martial arts of the highest realm. And for such a man to be with someone he calls his elder brother… what martial artist wouldn't know?”
Cho Ak-ryang glared at Beom Gye-wi with a displeased expression.
“Why don’t you just go around and spread the news everywhere?”
“What did I do now?”
“You called me Elder Cho.”
“The other day you were complaining that I was being too informal…”
Muttering to himself, Beom Gye-wi shot a glare at Sa Mu-sim for no good reason.
“We were never here.”
“Pardon?”
“You killed all of these men.”
“Ah! Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
Quickly grasping the situation, Sa Mu-sim nodded. Cho Ak-ryang looked at him.
“There’s no need for long words. Due to certain circumstances, we can’t help you any further. So, be on your way.”
“I will surely repay this debt of gratitude.”
“If you want to repay a debt, you have to live first.”
Cho Ak-ryang’s gaze deepened profoundly.
“Hide yourself and wait. When the time comes, I will step forward myself. Don’t get carelessly involved in useless matters.”
“I will remember your words.”
Leaving Sa Mu-sim behind, Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi turned to leave.
After walking for some time, Beom Gye-wi, as if suddenly remembering, questioned Cho Ak-ryang.
“Elder Cho, you used your internal energy just now, didn’t you?”
“Just a little, just a little. I only coated my fingertips with it.”
“You’re always calling me a fool, but have you already forgotten Physician Dan’s words?”
“You don’t expect me to touch a cold, sharp blade with my bare skin, do you!”
“I’m telling Physician Dan.”
“Then you’ll have to tell him we came here, won’t you?”
“Huh? No, I can’t do that.”
“Let’s try using our heads for once, shall we? Is that thing on your shoulders just a decoration to keep them from looking empty?”
Sa Mu-sim stood there with a dazed expression, watching the two figures bicker as they walked away until they completely disappeared from sight.
* * *
After Pung Jin-seong joined them, Dan Ak-seon’s party headed straight for Shaanxi Province. They mostly traveled on main roads, and the journey was easy thanks to the carriage.
The checkpoints at the border between Gansu and Shaanxi were strict to block the influx of refugees, but they passed through without difficulty thanks to the travel permits and identification tags Pung Jin-seong had prepared.
Thus, the party entered Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province.
“Is something bothering you?”
Dan Ak-seon asked, looking at Beom Gye-wi’s expression with concern.
His face had been sour ever since they entered Xi’an.
With his brow deeply furrowed, Beom Gye-wi answered.
“My head hurts.”
“Your head?”
“The smell of the Huashan Sect is everywhere here.”
Dan Ak-seon lifted the carriage curtain and sniffed the air, but he couldn’t smell anything.
“What does the Huashan Sect smell like?”
“The smell of hundred-year-old dust. It’s so musty.”
Cho Ak-ryang, sitting beside him, added his two cents.
“Still, it’s better than the smell of rotten doubanjiang.”
“And where does that smell come from?”
“Zhongnan.”
Dan Ak-seon let out a chuckle.
“Still, not as bad as my mother’s descriptions.”
“And how did the Demonic Physician put it?”
At Cho Ak-ryang’s question, Dan Ak-seon put on a deliberately arrogant expression.
“Do you know why those Huashan bastards are so obsessed with plum blossoms? It’s to hide the stench of a thousand-year-old bachelor.”
“Heh…”
Seemingly quite satisfied with the Demonic Physician’s assessment, Beom Gye-wi let out a laugh.
“What about the Zhongnan Sect?”
In a frosty tone that seemed to scatter particles of ice, Dan Ak-seon replied.
“Thirty-six Fucking Bastards Under Heaven.”
“Keuk!”
A curse based on the Zhongnan Sect’s secret technique, the Thirty-six Swords Under Heaven. Short but powerful, the jab made Cho Ak-ryang unable to hold back his laughter.
Watching this, Pung Jin-seong wore a bitter smile.
“People from the Martial Alliance will be here to greet us soon. So please, I ask for your discretion.”
Pung Jin-seong was looking at Dan Ak-seon, but it was impossible not to know that his words were directed at Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.
The two cleared their throats and turned their heads away.
Just then, someone approached Pung Jin-seong.
They were Daoists exuding an air of pure refinement, wearing neat Daoist caps and navy robes.
Spotting the elderly Daoist at the head of the group, Pung Jin-seong was startled and hurried over to him.
“Well, look who it is!”
As Pung Jin-seong acknowledged him, the elderly Daoist responded with a formal bow.
“It has been a long time, Family Head.”
“To think you would come all this way yourself… I, Pung-mo, am at a loss for words.”
“I had to come. No matter how far the road, I had to come.”
The elderly Daoist offered a gentle smile.
“I heard that the disciples of my sect were greatly indebted to you recently. This humble Daoist was remiss and is only now offering his thanks.”
As the elderly Daoist bowed his head, Pung Jin-seong was startled and helped him up.
“It is said that excessive courtesy is a breach of etiquette. How can the Red Plum of the Crimson Cliff bow his head to a mere village physician like myself?”
It was then that a grumbling voice was heard from inside the carriage.
“Crimson Cliff? He’s one of those Huashan bastards?”
“Tsk, so that’s why his back was so stiff with us. Saving it all up for this moment, were we?”
The smile on Pung Jin-seong’s face faltered.
There was no way the man before him had missed what he had just heard.
And just as he thought.
Jin Hyeon, the Red Plum of the Crimson Cliff.
The junior brother of the current sect leader, the Divine Sword of Huashan, Jin Myeong, and a grand disciple of Huashan, turned his gaze toward the carriage.
“How fortunate.”
“Pardon?”
“With companions of such outstanding wit, your long journey must not have been dull.”
Pung Jin-seong breathed an inward sigh of relief. Fortunately, he didn't seem too offended.
Just then, Jin Hyeon turned his head to look behind him.
“Come and pay your respects. This is the head of the Jinseong Medical House.”
The moment he finished speaking, the Huashan Daoists lined up behind him cupped their fists in a swordsman’s salute.
The young Daoist at the front of the line spoke in a clear voice.
“Myeonggeom, a third-generation disciple of the Huashan Sect, greets the Head of the Jinseong Medical House.”
Pung Jin-seong looked at the young man who identified himself as Myeonggeom with surprised eyes.
This was because he was the Commander of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, the leader of the twenty-four Plum Blossom Swordsmen who were the core supporting the Huashan Sect.
As such, he was known to possess by far the most outstanding skill and character among the rising stars that the Huashan Sect prided itself on.
But seeing him in person, he was far too young.
Barely twenty, at most?
Considering he had attained the position of Commander of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen three years ago, the surprise was even greater.
The Crouching Dragon harbored by Huashan.
He lacked nothing to be called by the title, ‘The Pride of the Western Peak.’
The most representative Daoist sects in the martial world were Huashan and Wudang.
The Huashan Sect, in particular, had fully inherited the lineage of orthodox Daoism, as it was founded by Hao Datong, style name Guangningzi, one of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen who were the disciples of Wang Chongyang, the man who laid most of the groundwork for Daoism.
As such, their pride was higher than anywhere else.
Sometimes, this led to conflict.
What they considered self-respect could be seen as arrogance by outsiders.
However, Myeonggeom’s dignified and upright gaze and attitude left no room for any such misunderstanding.
He was that dignified, yet possessed humility as well.
“I was in a state of confusion that day and could not offer my proper thanks.”
As Myeonggeom bowed his head again, Pung Jin-seong shook his head.
“I only did what needed to be done.”
“Family Head, please speak comfortably with me. It is difficult for this junior to bear.”
“But to the Commander of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen of Huashan, how could I…”
Myeonggeom smiled playfully as he looked at Pung Jin-seong.
“Did you not just say that excessive courtesy is a breach of etiquette?”
“Oh?”
“So please, speak comfortably. I believe it will ease this junior’s burden as well.”
At Myeonggeom’s good-natured attitude, Pung Jin-seong finally burst into laughter.
“Haha. Very well. I shall do so.”
Watching the two converse with a warm smile, Jin Hyeon spoke to Pung Jin-seong.
“From now on, these children will escort you to the Martial Alliance.”
Pung Jin-seong was taken aback.
He hadn’t expected the Plum Blossom Swordsmen themselves to be part of the escort. Pung Jin-seong glanced toward the carriage but had no good reason to refuse.
“Then, we will be in your care for the time being.”
As Pung Jin-seong nodded, Myeonggeom moved to the front of the carriage. Watching him, Jin Hyeon said.
“First, let us have a meal. I’ve made reservations at a place that isn’t extravagant, but the food is excellent. It’s a hidden gem that only the locals know.”
Following Jin Hyeon's guidance, they arrived at a tavern where many dishes were already laid out. Unlike the tavern's modest exterior, each and every dish was extraordinary.
Before they ate, Pung Jin-seong introduced his companions.
“This is the son of my master, who uses the surname Dan and the given name Ak-seon.”
Jin Hyeon looked at Dan Ak-seon with surprised eyes.
“The son of the Divine Physician of Sacred Hands?”
Dan Ak-seon stood up and bowed his head to the Huashan Daoists.
“I am Dan Ak-seon. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
Pung Jin-seong smiled brightly.
“He may be young, but his medical skills are so outstanding that I dare not even try to follow in his footsteps.”
“…!”
The eyes of Jin Hyeon and the other Huashan Daoists widened.
They were well aware of Pung Jin-seong’s reputation, which even the imperial physicians of the royal court acknowledged. For Pung Jin-seong to praise someone’s skills so highly while humbling himself…
It was hard to believe, even hearing it from the man himself.
Feeling burdened by the gazes fixed on him, Dan Ak-seon smiled awkwardly and sat down.
Pung Jin-seong then pointed to Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.
“These gentlemen are from the medical house, and they go by the names Ak-gong and Ak-il.”
Jin Hyeon looked at the two with a peculiar gaze.
It wasn't just their unusual aura, but the fact that Pung Jin-seong, the head of the house, had used honorifics that made him curious.
Noticing this, Pung Jin-seong continued his explanation.
“They are individuals I have specially invited.”
“Ah, so these are the gentlemen with the quick wit from before.”
Jin Hyeon offered a friendly smile.
“With them along, I imagine our children’s escort duty won’t be so tedious.”
Beom Gye-wi snorted.
“Who’s escorting whom, I wonder.”
At the blunt retort, the expressions of the Huashan members hardened. Pung Jin-seong quickly spoke up to smooth things over.
“They’ve spent most of their lives cooped up in research, rarely venturing into the world, so they lack social skills. I ask for your understanding.”
“Haha. Not at all. The elders who occupy the various valleys and ravines of our mountain are unrivaled in their eccentricity. We are quite used to it, so please pay it no mind.”
Pung Jin-seong was inwardly impressed by Jin Hyeon’s eloquence.
Though he spoke politely, it was clear he was indirectly calling the two men incredibly eccentric.
Fortunately, the two didn’t seem to care much.
“Even if you find our company inconvenient, the atmosphere here has been quite tense lately. If an unfortunate incident were to occur in this place where our sect has laid its foundation, it would be quite troublesome for us. So, please bear with us for a little while.”
“How could we refuse the sincerity of Huashan?”
Nodding with a smile, Pung Jin-seong turned his gaze toward Han Seol-hwa.
“This person is…”
But Pung Jin-seong couldn’t finish his sentence.
The area outside the tavern had suddenly become chaotic.
Screams and curses erupted from the crowd that filled the marketplace adjacent to the tavern. It was all because of one person who was recklessly pushing his way through the people.
Recognizing him, Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi frowned.
“What’s that bastard doing loitering around here?”
“How should I know?”
It was Sa Mu-sim, who was supposed to be in hiding.