#50. A First-Rate Warrior Peeking into the Darkness (3)
After receiving treatment(?) from the mysterious young man, Moyong Sangwon somehow felt a new energy stirring within his body. He still couldn't muster any strength, but his condition had improved enough to attempt a basic session of meditative breathing.
Having recovered some vitality through one round of meditation, Moyong Sangwon gazed with complicated eyes at the small wooden box placed before him.
The young swordsman, who had desperately offered his blood(?) in a moment of crisis, had left the cave saying he'd go fetch some food.
"Does he not know this is a Hwahu inner core?"
A Hwahu inner core radiated warm yang energy on its own. No martial artist could fail to sense that aura, so he must have known and simply pretended otherwise.
"What on earth is his intention?"
The sight of thin threads like spider silk emerging from his arm as he climbed the valley reminded him eerily of a spider.
Moyong Sangwon chewed slowly on bits of the jerky the young man had left behind, lost in deep thought about him.
#
After stuffing himself full at the inn, Jin Sowoon headed straight for the blacksmith.
"Those are bear traps."
Jin Sowoon eyed the pile of bear traps stacked in one corner of the forge and asked, "But you've got quite a stockpile, huh?"
"The magistrate down in the lower village offered triple the price for bear gallbladders, so all the hunters around here swarmed in and wiped out every last bear."
Jin Sowoon pondered for a moment before asking, "Can you adjust these to be really sensitive?"
"Sensitive? How sensitive?"
"Sensitive enough that a rabbit stepping on it would trigger it."
"Kid, if I set 'em that sensitive, anyone who steps on one is in big trouble!"
"I won't use 'em on people. Beasts are showing up earlier than seasonal norms and harming folks."
"Still no."
When the blacksmith shook his head firmly, Jin Sowoon pulled two silver taels from his bosom and set them down. The blacksmith's eyes shook violently.
"Really can't do it?"
"……."
He added one more silver tael, and the blacksmith spoke up.
"I can't make it rabbit-sensitive, but I can tweak it to squirrel-sensitive."
The blacksmith swiftly pocketed the silver.
#
It was a full day later when he returned to Moyong Sangwon. Setting the traps had taken longer than expected.
He stopped by the inn again to buy dumplings and bamboo leaf liquor before heading back. Moyong Sangwon, who had apparently grown quite anxious over the day, greeted him with visible relief.
"I was worried you'd ditched me."
"Haha, sorry about that. Had some business to handle."
"Sniff sniff. What's this smell?"
Starved as he was, Moyong Sangwon's sense of smell had sharpened. He set down the dumplings and liquor, and Moyong Sangwon—forgetting his position as the Moyong family's young lord—devoured them greedily.
"Wh-what kind of dumplings are these? Best I've ever tasted in my life."
Every time Moyong Sangwon smiled, Moyong Seol's face faintly overlapped. Seeing the smile he hadn't witnessed much in his past life like this stirred complex emotions.
"Probably the Hunger-Quelling Dumplings."
"No way. Couldn't be."
In his haste to wolf down the dumplings, Moyong Sangwon ended up choking.
"Kuhk!"
I handed him the bamboo leaf liquor, and he pounded his chest while gulping it down.
"Kugh! This too is Hunger-Quenching Bamboo Leaf Liquor?"
"That's right."
Once his belly was somewhat full, he finally noticed I hadn't eaten a single bite and sheepishly pushed the dumplings toward me, face flushed.
"I filled up at the inn on the way back for food."
"……."
Moyong Sangwon hesitated for a moment, nodded a couple times, then reached for the dumplings again.
"I'm deeply ashamed before a young friend like you."
Only after polishing off all four portions of packed dumplings did Moyong Sangwon seem to regain some energy.
"Everything's a mystery, but one thing intrigues me most."
Moyong Sangwon said with an awkward expression.
"Please, speak."
"Do you know who I am?"
"When you were unconscious, you muttered 'Moyong.' So I guessed you might be someone from the Moyong family."
"Correct. I am Moyong Sangwon, young lord of the Moyong family. But…… who might you be?"
"Jin Sowoon of the Jin family. A disciple of a small sect near Hebi."
"Hebi…… You mean Iron Sword Sect?"
I shook my head.
"A bit older than that—Tae-eul Gate."
"Ah……! Tae-eul Gate……."
Moyong Sangwon smacked his lips awkwardly and scratched his head.
"One of the 108 Peaks…… Sorry. Hebi is undeniably Tae-eul Gate territory."
"No matter. It's a testament to Iron Sword Sect's growing prestige."
Moyong Sangwon bowed his head with a guilty look.
"Th-this is embarrassing. Acting the fool before my benefactor."
"Benefactor? I merely did what anyone should."
"Don't say that. Not just anyone could go this far for a stranger."
"Tae-eul Gate's teaching is: 'Always benefit others to the best of your ability.' I simply followed that precept. If you keep elevating me, I might be the one embarrassed."
"……Heh. You're the first to ever make the name 'Moyong family' feel small."
Moyong Sangwon looked at me like I was some wondrous creature.
"……But how did you know to come all the way down here?"
I couldn't very well say I'd planned to harvest the Hwahu inner core from his corpse.
"While pondering ways I could contribute to my sect amid Iron Sword Sect's rising power, I heard from an herb gatherer elder about wallflower herbs on Seoho Peak's cliffs near Mugang. I was searching the cliffs when……."
"You found me! Perfect timing!"
Moyong Sangwon clapped enthusiastically.
"Yes."
"A disciple who goes this far for his sect…… Your sect leader must be envious."
"Merely repaying what I've received—nothing more, nothing less."
Moyong Sangwon nodded thoughtfully, then spoke again.
"Still, because of me, you missed out on those precious herbs. What to do……."
He rummaged in his bosom for a while before steeling himself and pulling out the wooden box with a clunk.
"……Take this instead?"
"……."
"As you probably know, this is a Hwahu inner core. I don't know your level of attainment, but it should propel you to the first-rate realm on its own. Shared among your sect's disciples, it could lay the foundation for Tae-eul Gate to rival Iron Sword Sect."
Moyong Sangwon offering the Hwahu inner core evoked memories of Moyong Seol from his past life.
[Isn't this a Cheongmyeonghwan?]
[And?]
[It's done. Give it to Senior when you're in dire straits.]
[You and I are just Small Justice Squad members right now. What I need is a comrade for survival. And how long will you keep calling me 'Senior'?]
Watching Moyong Sangwon's actions revealed the roots of Moyong Seol's kind heart.
I recalled the Cheongmyeonghwan I'd once failed to refuse and pushed the Hwahu inner core back.
"I didn't act expecting payment. Please, keep it."
"……If the reward feels insufficient, don't worry. Embarrassing as it is to say, a Moyong family young lord's life isn't cheap. This won't be the end of it."
"If even the young lord of Moyong family ventures out personally for spirit herbs, surely it's for something vital? Like the Murim Academy entrance exam, perhaps."
"……!"
"Tae-eul Gate teachings don't condone intercepting a father's love for his child. I'll accept only your kind intentions, Senior."
I'd already received full recompense in my past—their future—and had no desire to leave even a sliver of misfortune in Moyong Seol's fate, a debt I could never repay.
To drive the point home to the still-conflicted Moyong Sangwon:
"If a minor sect like ours got a Hwahu inner core, wouldn't it invite a tragedy like Taewon Cheon Family Manor?"
Taewon in Shanxi Province had housed a renowned martial house for ten generations: Cheon Family Manor.
The founder's unique art, Cheon Family Blade Style, ranked among the Ten Great Blade Arts of the martial world. They'd shone in countless incidents, sparking endless debate over their inclusion in the Murim Alliance's 108 Peaks.
One day, rumors spread of them securing the legendary elixir Azure Spirit Oil. Warriors flooded Taewon from across the jianghu.
Cheon Family Manor's defenses seemed impregnable even against thousands. Yet for inexplicable reasons, a fire broke out, spreading wildly as masked assailants infiltrated, exterminating the entire house.
The Azure Spirit Oil's whereabouts remained unconfirmed.
Thus vanished Taewon Cheon Family Manor into history, cause unknown.
This was why I'd secretly consumed the elixirs I'd secured, hiding them even from my sectmates.
"……Hmm."
"My mind's made up, Senior. Please let it go."
"Very well. I respect your will. But separately, name something you need. No matter what, I'll grant that wish."
"I'm fine……."
"Ah, granting your request won't erase the favor you did me. I say this because I can't face myself without expressing my gratitude. It's my will—so humor me."
"……."
I pondered but could think of nothing. I'd consumed so many elixirs I could barely digest more, and with more coming. The sect lacked no foundational wealth.
'Ah!'
A brilliant idea flashed. Looking at Moyong Sangwon, his eyes lit with anticipation.
"How about giving a Cheongmyeonghwan to one of my Tae-eul Gate juniors?"
"Cheongmyeonghwan?"
Moyong Sangwon tilted his head, glanced at the Hwahu inner core, then back at me.
"It's a precious elixir of our house, but incomparable to a Hwahu inner core?"
"A Hwahu inner core invites disaster just by existing, but a Cheongmyeonghwan from you, Senior? No one would dare covet it."
"……!"
A faint smile tugged at Moyong Sangwon's lips.
"Understood. I'll personally deliver it in the Moyong family's name."
To me now, a Cheongmyeonghwan held little meaning. I already had plenty of minor elixirs ahead. Better to boost my sect brothers' cultivation now.
"Rather than to me, please give it to our sect leader to distribute to a disciple."
"……Why?"
"If the great disciple receives it, it might seem like favoritism. But if the sect leader chooses, it motivates all the juniors."
"……Heh!"
Moyong Sangwon's expression turned dazed, then he blurted unexpectedly:
"……You don't have a childhood betrothal or anything, do you?"
I tilted my head, not grasping the intent.
"No, why?"
Moyong Sangwon looked relieved.
"Nothing. Don't worry about the Cheongmyeonghwan. I'll send three to your sect leader, infused with my gratitude."
#
"Truly a wondrous tool."
After binding Moyong Sangwon to my back and scaling the valley with the Flying Dragon Claw, he marveled.
But soon, feeling sunlight after so long, his attention drifted from the Bi-ryong-jo.
"Feels too good. Too good! I said my one wish was to feel this sun again—and you made it happen."
Moyong Sangwon stretched languidly, basking in the rays.
"Don't overdo it."
Though I'd absorbed all the demonic qi, his dantian wasn't fully restored.
"No worries. Feels like I could run right now. What's your schedule from here?"
"Time to head back to the sect."
Factoring in a detour to the Namgung family, it'd be tight.
"If you're not in a rush, rest a few days at our Moyong convoy in Mugang, then come to Moyong family with me."
"I'll visit Moyong family later. I have sect business too."
"Related to the Murim Academy exam?"
"……Yes."
Moyong Sangwon didn't hide his disappointment.
"Figured. ……Still, you can rest a few days, right?"
"Well……."
"Do it. Pushing without rest builds fatigue and strains the body."
"Understo……."
Mid-sentence, a eerie sensation made me whip my head around. Though the sun blazed midday, the forest held only wind—no other sounds.
"What's wrong?"
Moyong Sangwon seemed oblivious still.
"Were the attackers who ambushed you wearing black uniforms with red headbands?"
"Hm? How did you……."
"There."
I pointed to one side of the woods. Moyong Sangwon frowned, straining to muster qi at what looked empty to him.
As expected—his dantian wasn't fully recovered.
"……!!"
"The ones who attacked you, Senior?"
"Not sure."
Moments later, some twenty figures emerged from the woods, emanating no aura.
"……Yep, that's them."
I drew the Black Dragon Sword instead of answering. Moyong Sangwon's face fell bitterly.
"I'm so sorry to burden my benefactor like this. No repaying your grace, and now dragging you into this."
"Senior, save the talk for later."
"Right."
Moyong Sangwon stepped forward. Though the twenty-odd foes stood only to the front, they dominated a ten-zhang radius all around. No gap for escape.
"What is your goal to pursue us so relentlessly?!"
"……."
"One question."
Moyong Sangwon's voice boomed.
"Are you here for the Moyong family young lord?"
"……."
The crimson-headbanded masked foes remained silent. Then Moyong Sangwon pointed at me.
"Spare this child, and I'll yield my neck willingly. Deal?"
Before I could stop him, the central crimson-banded man stepped forward.
"Impossible!"
His voice grated like scraping metal, sinister and rough. He pointed at us.
"Kill both!"