Chapter 222
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: This is a Misunderstanding
The Jade Wall Sect was a small sect located deep within the Daeyeo Mountain Range in northeastern Guangdong.
The sect itself had fallen into ruin a very long time ago, and not a single martial artist from it remained.
The history of the Jade Wall Sect was not short. Normally, when a sect had been in decline for so long, nothing should have remained.
The pavilions and walls should have collapsed, and with grass and trees growing everywhere, whatever was left should have crumbled away.
However, the Jade Wall Sect had been quite well-maintained until now.
This was because the Golden Moon Trading Company had coveted it.
The catalyst for the Jade Wall Sect’s downfall was Nameless.
When Nameless began to desire the Jade Wall Sect, the sect started to falter, and eventually, it fell.
And Nameless, having obtained exactly what they wanted, abandoned it.
That was when the Golden Moon Trading Company intervened and took over the management of the Jade Wall Sect.
Nameless had no reason to object, so they allowed it.
The Jade Wall Sect was one of the most important places for the Golden Moon Trading Company.
In particular, successive leaders of the Golden Moon Trading Company, upon inheriting the company, were told time and again about the importance of the Jade Wall Sect until their ears bled.
The same was true for the current head, Pyeong Jarim.
Scholars and martial artists dispatched from the Golden Moon Trading Company were always stationed at the Jade Wall Sect.
The scholars studied the Jade Wall Sect to see if there were any other secrets, while the martial artists watched over the scholars and protected the sect.
All matters concerning the Jade Wall Sect were managed directly by the Golden Moon Trading Company's headquarters in Changsha, so the company’s branch in Guangdong paid no attention to it.
In fact, unless one was at the level of a branch manager, they wouldn't even know of the Jade Wall Sect's existence.
Until now, this had never been a problem.
But with the recent fall of the headquarters, a problem arose.
The support from the Golden Moon Trading Company had suddenly been cut off.
Of course, since it had only been a short time, no immediate issues had surfaced.
But if this situation dragged on, it would definitely become a problem.
Moreover, those staying at the Jade Wall Sect had no idea what had happened in Changsha.
This place was deep in the mountains, a location virtually cut off from the world.
Until now, they had no need to know the affairs of the Golden Moon Trading Company.
This was because they wanted to focus solely on training and rest while they were here.
Once you entered the Jade Wall Sect, you had to stay for a minimum of five years.
So, if one considered it closed-door training, it was a very fulfilling time.
In any case, the time had come for them to make a decision.
If they ended up in a situation where they could do neither one thing nor the other, it would be too late to take action.
Just as the martial artists of the Golden Moon Trading Company at the Jade Wall Sect began to discuss such matters, Byeok Taesan's party was entering Hwapyeong County, near the Daeyeo Mountain Range.
* * *
"So we've finally come this far."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages muttered as he stepped out of the carriage. His expression wasn't too bad.
Things might be a bit different once they entered the mountains, but for now, it was hard to call this place a rural village.
With a bit of exaggeration, it was hardly different from Changsha.
The area around the inn secured by the Underworld Sect members was quite bustling. There were probably even more glamorous places than this.
"Brother, how many days do you think we'll be here?"
At the Divine Doctor’s question, the One-Needle Eccentric tilted his head.
"Hmm. At least three days, don't you think?"
"Are you sure?"
The One-Needle Eccentric scowled.
"Why? You want me to call the Young Master?"
"Ugh, stop with the threats. It's so childish."
Just as the One-Needle Eccentric was about to flare up at being called childish, the Divine Doctor quickly interjected.
"This place looks quite decent. I was thinking of going to see what the courtesan houses in this town are like tonight. What do you say?"
"Courtesan houses?"
The One-Needle Eccentric swallowed the scolding he was about to unleash and put on a curious expression.
Watching the two of them from a short distance away, So Cheongmyeong eventually sighed and shook his head.
"What's with them?"
"I'm not going."
"Why do you get to decide? Of course you're coming too."
"I'm busy studying medicine."
"This is why you're still the way you are. Kid, do you think we're going just to have fun?"
So Cheongmyeong stared at the Divine Doctor with a look of disbelief.
If not to have fun, what else would one do at a courtesan house?
"This is all a part of studying medicine. To become a good physician, what do you think is the most important thing?"
"Naturally, it's knowledge and experience in medicine."
"See, see? I knew it. That's why you're in the state you're in."
So Cheongmyeong bristled. He could tolerate many things, but he couldn't stand hearing such words about his dedication to medicine.
"Then what do you think it is, old man?"
"People, of course."
"Pardon?"
"The most important thing is people. You have to understand people. A good physician must be able to see through a person's body and mind, and even further, their soul. That's what it takes."
So Cheongmyeong fell silent. He couldn't quickly think of a response.
"Do you know what happens when you only dig into knowledge like you do? You diagnose correctly but can't cure the illness. Do you think illnesses are cured just by using medicine? You have to manage the mind. If you can soothe the mind well, you can sometimes cure an illness without any medicine. Understand?"
So Cheongmyeong's expression deepened. It wasn't entirely wrong. He had never thought about it that way before.
He was still at a stage where he felt he didn't even have enough time to study medicine alone.
"Now then, where do you think is the best place to study the human heart?"
So Cheongmyeong’s expression suddenly changed as he stared at the Divine Doctor.
"You mean a courtesan house?"
"Of course. What is their job? Isn't it to soothe people's bodies and minds? They might be closer to being physicians than a clumsy one like you."
So Cheongmyeong flared up.
"I cannot agree with that."
The Divine Doctor chuckled.
"Then come along and try to prove me wrong."
So Cheongmyeong's expression became incredibly complicated.
If he agreed, he felt like he was being drawn into a trap, but if he refused, it felt like he was running away.
The Divine Doctor grinned and walked past So Cheongmyeong into the inn.
The One-Needle Eccentric clicked his tongue as he watched the Divine Doctor, then patted So Cheongmyeong's shoulder.
"Don't worry about it too much. At your age, it's good to just experience things one by one, head-on. So just follow along. Abandon your narrow-mindedness, and paradise will open to you."
With that, the One-Needle Eccentric also went inside.
So Cheongmyeong stared blankly at their retreating backs, mulling over the words of the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric again and again.
* * *
There were quite a few members of the Underworld Sect in Hwapyeong County.
This was because Byeok Taesan had previously ordered Hwaok to find the Jade Wall Sect and the Sword Wall Fortress, so she had stationed more members near those two locations.
As soon as Byeok Taesan's party arrived, they reported everything about the recent movements at the Jade Wall Sect.
"The Golden Moon Trading Company is managing the Jade Wall Sect. I've learned that there is a wall made of jade there, and they are said to be studying and protecting it."
Byeok Taesan nodded. That was why he was looking for the Jade Wall Sect as well.
Hwaok spoke cautiously.
"However, the jade wall in the Jade Wall Sect is not actually of great value. Though it's called jade, it's closer to a stone wall with a slight jade-like hue."
"Is that so? Were they out of money?"
Byeok Taesan tilted his head. No matter how you looked at it, it was made by the Heavenly Demon. Did he really make it out of stone because he lacked jade?
He wouldn't even have needed to try. A single word demanding it would have been enough.
Such was the Heavenly Demon.
"Well, we'll find out when we get there."
Byeok Taesan looked at Hwaok, silently telling her to continue.
"And there is one place in Hwapyeong County related to the Golden Moon Trading Company."
Byeok Taesan nodded nonchalantly.
Since the Golden Moon Trading Company was managing the Jade Wall Sect, it was only natural that there would be something related to them here.
"It's a courtesan house. It doesn't seem to be a branch of the Golden Moon Trading Company, but rather a simple contact point."
"A contact point?"
"It's almost never used. It's set up to be a point of contact in case any problems arise at the Jade Wall Sect."
In other words, they had never seen it being used for contact.
As Hwaok was reporting, the presence of someone approaching from a distance could be felt.
Hwaok quickly recognized the approaching person as a member of the Underworld Sect.
The time she spent reporting to Byeok Taesan was important. So for someone to approach like this meant the matter was urgent.
Hwaok quickly looked at Byeok Taesan.
Before she could say anything, the door burst open. The Underworld Sect member was still some distance away, rushing over breathlessly.
The member noticed the open door, his eyes widening slightly.
But as if that didn't matter, he ran up and stood before the door.
When Hwaok nodded for him to report, the member quickly opened his mouth.
"People have come down from the Jade Wall Sect."
Hwaok's eyes widened slightly. She quickly turned her head to look at Byeok Taesan.
She was asking what to do.
There was no need to hear the answer. Byeok Taesan was already standing up and walking out.
Hwaok quickly followed.
The distance between the inn and the courtesan house was merely a hundred paces.
After leaving the inn, Byeok Taesan and Hwaok walked quickly and arrived at the courtesan house.
It wasn't a common sight for a man and a woman to go to a courtesan house together.
But for Hwaok, that was hardly an issue.
She had run a courtesan house when she was in the brothel district. What was the problem with going to one now?
Just as the two were about to enter the courtesan house, a clamorous noise came from inside.
Hwaok looked at Byeok Taesan with surprised eyes.
The corners of Byeok Taesan's mouth lifted slightly.
"It seems our dear physicians have come out to play."
"To play?"
Byeok Taesan let out a small laugh. If they came to play, they should have just played. Why were they causing such a scene?
The people involved in the altercation were the Divine Doctor of the Ages, the One-Needle Eccentric, and So Cheongmyeong.
Byeok Taesan strode into the courtesan house.
Hwaok stuck close, following him.
Perhaps because of the commotion inside, there was no one at the entrance to greet guests.
As they went further in, they finally saw some courtesans.
They were all engrossed in watching the spectacle.
When Byeok Taesan approached to check, it was indeed the Divine Doctor's party, caught in an argument with someone.
For now, it was just an argument, but it looked like it could turn into a sword fight at any moment.
As Byeok Taesan stepped forward, the spectating courtesans unknowingly stepped aside, clearing a path.
Byeok Taesan and Hwaok followed the path and watched the fight from the best spot.
But upon closer inspection, the one who had started the argument wasn't the Divine Doctor, but So Cheongmyeong.
His face was flushed, likely from drinking, and he was spouting a stream of unintelligible words.
"Ah, seriously. Isn't this bastard doing this on purpose?"
At the Divine Doctor's words, the One-Needle Eccentric shook his head.
Then, he spoke to the men they were arguing with.
"Honestly, our guy is a bit more at fault, but your side isn't entirely blameless either, so let's just wrap it up here."
At the One-Needle Eccentric's words, the men glared at the Divine Doctor's party one by one with eyes that seemed to burn.
"Not blameless? What did we do that wasn't blameless?"
"You harassed the girls in our room. Frankly, that's against the code of the martial world."
To think the code of the martial world was being brought up over something so trivial.
The man spoke with a look of disbelief.
"Didn't I tell you? I didn't come here to play. I wasn't harassing the courtesan, I just greeted her because I recognized her. Do you still not understand me?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages scoffed.
"If you didn't come to play, did you come here to conspire or something? And hey, you son of a bitch, why is your speech so clipped? Does my brother look like a pushover to you? He's three times your age, you bastard. Argh, I oughta just! If it weren't for our Young Master, I'd just..."
A chilling glint flashed in the man's eyes.
"What are you going to do? Go on, try something. And bring that Young Master of yours, or whatever he is."
The Divine Doctor was about to retort when Byeok Taesan stepped forward.
"I'm here."
At the sight of Byeok Taesan, who had suddenly interjected with an out-of-place remark, the man's face twisted mercilessly.
"And who are you?"
However, the situation on the Divine Doctor's side was completely different from the men's.
"This is a misunderstanding!"
At the Divine Doctor's words, everyone looked at him with expressions that said, *what now?*
But the Divine Doctor didn't care how others looked at him. The only thing important to him right now was Byeok Taesan.
"A misunderstanding?"
"We didn't come here to play."
Byeok Taesan smirked.
"Then did you come to conspire?"
"Uh..."
The Divine Doctor's eyes darted around until he spotted So Cheongmyeong next to him. He quickly pulled him forward.
"I brought this kid here to teach him a little about people."
Byeok Taesan looked at So Cheongmyeong for a moment, then glanced at the men they had been arguing with and nodded.
"I suppose this is also a way to learn about people."
Byeok Taesan said this and turned away.
"Play in moderation. We're leaving early tomorrow morning."
The Divine Doctor's eyes widened. He quickly bowed his head low.
"Understood, Young Master!"
Leaving the Divine Doctor behind, Byeok Taesan strode towards the men.
There were three of them, all glaring at Byeok Taesan with menacing eyes.
Byeok Taesan asked Hwaok, who had approached him.
"How many people did you say were at the Jade Wall Sect in total?"
"Twelve scholars, five laborers, and six martial artists."
The men's eyes grew wider and wider.
They thought they had gotten into a random argument, but these people had sought them out knowing they were from the Jade Wall Sect.
A sudden, intense sense of crisis washed over them. In times like this, running was the best option. Of course, to make a clean getaway, a surprise attack was essential.
The three men simultaneously drew their swords and lunged.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
A sound like striking an invisible barrier rang out. With that sound, the three swords snapped.
The three men's eyes became as wide as lanterns.
In their eyes, they could still see Byeok Taesan standing perfectly still.
That was the last scene they saw while still conscious.
< This is a Misunderstanding > End