Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Killing Two Birds with One Stone (4)
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The next morning.
The Mount Hua Sect was in an uproar.
“Someone tried to take the Senior-most Brother’s life!?”
Fortunately, the Master of the Reception Hall and the Master of the Disciplinary Hall stepped in to quell the rumors, preventing them from spreading beyond the mountain.
But was this any ordinary matter?
“...Good heavens.”
“How could such a thing happen?”
Not only the registered disciples but also some of the secular disciples—who paid a certain fee to study—grew anxious, and a commotion arose as some even tried to send messages to their families.
In particular, Ha Jin-ak’s martial brothers, Liu Zhangming and Jo Hun, rushed to the Plum Blossom Clinic in a panic.
But the one who blocked their path was not the Head Physician, Cheong Ho-won, but their own master, Bai Duanxian.
“Calm yourselves.”
“How can we possibly be calm!”
Liu Zhangming’s face was filled with a precariousness he rarely showed.
His pale, blood-drained face was set with determination, as if he would not back down until he had confirmed that Ha Jin-ak was safe.
If the senior Liu Zhangming was like this, how could Jo Hun remain composed?
Bai Duanxian knelt down and crouched, ruffling the hair of the fidgeting Jo Hun who stood beside Liu Zhangming.
“Zhangming, let’s not shout in front of the child.”
“But… Master…”
As the end of Liu Zhangming’s sentence grew thick with unshed tears, Bai Duanxian forced a smile to lighten the mood.
“Jin-ak is safe. There was someone who intended him harm, but thankfully, your junior brother stopped them before they could even reach him.”
“Jue did?!”
At those words, Liu Zhangming’s eyes widened in relief.
“Then where is Jue now? Was he injured?”
“Now, now, I told you to calm down.”
When Bai Duanxian chided him again, Liu Zhangming realized he had overstepped and composed himself.
Only then did Bai Duanxian’s lips slowly part.
“He went down the mountain on his own.”
“...On his own?”
“Yes.”
Bai Duanxian took out a note written by Cheong Ho-won.
The content was rather brief.
It said that he had encountered a suspicious person while on his way to check on the Senior-most Brother’s condition, and that he would pursue the one who had been watching from behind.
At the end, Ouyang Jue’s personal signature was written simply, leaving Liu Zhangming with no choice but to believe it.
In truth, the letter was a fabrication Bai Duanxian had created for Ouyang Jue, who had hastily descended the mountain.
However, there was no way Liu Zhangming would recognize it as a fake with just a single glance at the signature.
Still, just in case, Bai Duanxian quickly tucked the note inside his robe.
“Even so, to leave without a single report to the Sect Leader. He must have been in a great hurry.”
“Jue…”
Liu Zhangming stroked his chin with his fingers, lost in thought.
Although Ouyang Jue had a streak of a lone wolf in him, he wasn't the type to act rashly on his own.
Moreover, at the Plum Blossom Clinic where Ha Jin-ak was, there were members of the Mount Hua Sect, including Cheong Ho-won.
They were stronger than Ouyang Jue, not weaker.
Then, a spark flashed in Liu Zhangming’s mind.
‘That’s right! Junior Brother Ouyang received the Purple Spirit Elixir.’
If so, Cheong Ho-won and the other physicians must have been away for a day to concoct the next elixir.
Even if they left some personnel behind, it would have only been enough trainees to care for Ha Jin-ak, who was now in a stable condition.
As a disciple of the Sect Leader and a junior brother to Ha Jin-ak, he had observed the process once before.
Then why did Ouyang Jue leave alone?
‘...I don’t know.’
It was like looking at a picture scribbled over in black; he couldn't deduce anything.
Then he suddenly realized Bai Duanxian’s cold gaze was resting on his cheek.
Liu Zhangming gave a slight bow and spoke.
“I was lost in thought for too long. My apologies.”
“Zhangming.”
“Yes.”
Bai Duanxian’s expression hardened.
“Whatever the case, Jue is now a rogue who left the Mount Hua Sect on his own whim. He will surely commit acts of killing, claiming it’s for the Senior-most Brother’s revenge. Therefore, you must not get swept up in it.”
“...I know.”
As he said this, a bitter smile touched Liu Zhangming’s lips.
Even after resolving the Golden Ring Merchant Guild’s affair, after making a name for himself in the Nine Dragons Tournament, after succeeding the Senior-most Brother’s legacy, was he still just a rogue?
Liu Zhangming’s lips parted feebly.
“I will take my leave now.”
“Very well.”
With Bai Duanxian’s permission, Liu Zhangming turned away with Jo Hun.
After they had put some distance between themselves and Bai Duanxian, Jo Hun, who had been fidgeting nervously, spoke cautiously.
“Senior Brother Liu.”
“Yes?”
“When the Sect Leader was talking about Senior Brother Ouyang, he didn't seem as displeased as before, did he?”
“...!”
Hearing Jo Hun’s words, Liu Zhangming recalled that Bai Duanxian’s expression hadn’t been as angry as it used to be.
Swallowing this newfound question, Liu Zhangming straightened his Daoist robes.
The Plum Blossom Clinic was just ahead.
“Hun, we are going to see the Senior-most Brother. Straighten your posture.”
Back straight.
Gaze confident.
This was the conduct a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect should uphold, something Ha Jin-ak had always emphasized.
Plum Blossom Undefeated.
Though we may fall, we will not be broken by the hands of others.
Only after Ha Jin-ak had fallen did Liu Zhangming realize just how precious those words were.
*Creeak—*
As the doors to the Plum Blossom Clinic opened, revealing Ha Jin-ak, Liu Zhangming’s face seemed to crumble with tears for a moment.
“Zhangming, let’s not shout in front of the child.”
Recalling Bai Duanxian’s words, Liu Zhangming forced strength into his eyes and held back his tears.
Jo Hun, like Liu Zhangming, also fought back his weeping.
*Step, step.*
They walked three paces and approached the bedside of the unconscious Ha Jin-ak.
“This foolish younger brother offers his greetings to the Senior-most Brother.”
And holding back a tear-choked breath, he offered a long-overdue greeting after ten days.
When they raised their heads again, a steely resolve was etched on the faces of the two Daoists.
***
Meanwhile.
In a quiet mountain village, Ouyang Jue had changed into shabby clothes and was packing climbing gear.
“I can’t stand this kind of work.”
*Clatter, clatter.*
As Ouyang Jue shook his body, the iron spikes that had pierced through the cloth bundle tumbled out.
The blacksmith had sworn that the leather pouch was so tough it wouldn’t tear for a whole season.
‘Typical words of a merchant.’
Ouyang Jue cursed the blacksmith who had been bragging about being from the Iron Palm Gang or some such nonsense.
But the man might have had a right to feel a bit wronged.
Were iron spikes an ordinary weight?
They weighed a hefty five catties, and the way they were slung meant the weight was bound to be lopsided.
Since Ouyang Jue had asked for the ends to be sharpened, he had brought this trouble upon himself.
It wasn't that Ouyang Jue was completely unaware of this, but he couldn't help being displeased.
“Damn Iron Palm.”
Ouyang Jue scowled and picked up the iron spikes.
Since the bag was already torn, he planned to just pierce it all the way through with the nails and drag it behind him.
‘Won’t the tips get dull this way?’
As Ouyang Jue was seriously pondering this, a helping hand appeared.
“You there! Do you know where you are to be wandering about!”
Recognizing the man blocking his path, Ouyang Jue let out a dry laugh.
“Aren’t you that blacksmith who was blustering about being from the Iron Palm Gang?”
At those words, the burly, bearded man guffawed.
“I am now a righteous warrior of the Green Forest!”
“What?”
Of all the jokes to make, Ouyang Jue couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out.
“Puhahaha!”
Seeing this, the man tilted his head in confusion.
“Young man, do you not grasp your current situation?”
“It seems your own eyes have gone bad.”
“Your?”
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, emitting a rather ominous glint.
“The martial arts this first-rate master has learned are…!”
“Three-Section Grappling Hand, Iron Palm Arts? And a slightly deficient version at that?”
When Ouyang Jue accurately named the martial arts he had learned, the man became extremely flustered and stammered badly.
“H-How did you…”
“It’s obvious at a glance. You think this is the first time I’ve seen a rootless thug like you?”
Ouyang Jue unfolded the Mount Hua Sect Daoist robes he had hidden, as if to show the man.
“Here, look! I am a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, Ou…”
“Lies!”
The man cut Ouyang Jue off mid-sentence and said with a triumphant expression.
“I may be a warrior from out of town, but how dare you impersonate someone from Mount Hua!”
At those words, Ouyang Jue’s face instantly turned cold.
“Oh, is that so?”
Being told he didn't look like a Daoist was something he could tolerate once or twice.
Briefly pondering whether he now had to endure scorn from some insignificant nobody, Ouyang Jue lightly shook his head and said.
“Whether I’m a real Daoist from the Mount Hua Sect or not, it seems you getting beaten up is a foregone conclusion.”
*Swoosh…*
As Ouyang Jue lightly roused his Purple Mist True Energy, the man broke into a cold sweat.
The amount of internal energy he felt from him was no joke for his age.
Finally realizing the situation was not in his favor, the man forced a smile and began to beg.
“Hearing your noble speech, you must be a true Daoist. Hehe, I apologize.”
“Too late, you bastard.”
Ouyang Jue cracked his knuckles.
A short while later.
*Clank, clank.*
The man had to follow behind Ouyang Jue, burdened with a multitude of luggage.
Occasionally, the tip of a spike would prick his skin, causing the man’s face to contort.
“Ouch, that stings!”
“It is through pain that one matures. Will you not walk faster?”
The words unbefitting his age, coupled with the profound internal energy he had felt for a moment.
‘He must be much older than he looks, which is why he spoke to me so informally…?’
*Gulp.*
The man’s attitude towards Ouyang Jue had gone beyond subservient and was now practically digging into the ground.
“Um, what is your esteemed name?”
“So you can go around cursing it all over town?”
“Oh heavens, no!”
Although the man waved his hands in denial, Ouyang Jue eyed him with suspicion.
This was the same guy who, with a flip of his palm, had just claimed to be a righteous warrior of the Green Forest.
What good would it do to grovel now?
‘He seems to be under some kind of misunderstanding.’
But there was no need to correct him.
Smiling inwardly, Ouyang Jue cleared his throat and pointed his finger towards a certain spot.
“Let us go there.”
“Yessir!”
Watching the man speak in an absurd voice, Ouyang Jue let out a dry laugh and followed him.
The man’s effort to constantly adjust his posture to avoid dropping the iron spikes was commendable, but it looked incredibly hideous from behind.
Just as he was seriously considering giving him a swift kick.
“We have arrived, sir!”
“Is that so?”
Ouyang Jue, putting on as much of an air as he could, approached the destination with his hands clasped behind his back.
Oil Flowing Stone Mountain.
It was a strange mountain, also known as Seated Buddha’s Hand Mountain.
The former was a local name, given because oil flowed in the center despite the mountain being made of rock.
The latter was a Buddhist name, given because not even the strongest man could climb it, making it resemble the palm of a seated Buddha.
Considering the name was given around the end of the Song and the beginning of the Yuan dynasties, and its location between Shaanxi and Henan, this was a very peculiar case.
When borders overlapped, it was common for both Daoist and Buddhist schools to give a mountain different names.
‘Why would the Quanzhen School concede a unique name to Shaolin?’
The Quanzhen School, which had settled on Mount Zhongnan before the Mount Hua Sect was established.
During the era when Wang Chongyang, the master of Mount Hua’s founder, He Datong, was alive and well, would they have relinquished a name for no reason?
In the past, when Ouyang Jue was growing weary of his life as a wanderer, he had sensed something strange here and had searched Seated Buddha’s Hand Mountain thoroughly.
Naturally, he found nothing.
This was because Ouyang Jue was not the only one to have had such thoughts; countless martial artists had searched it before.
Among them, of course, was Shaolin.
‘What was it that made me think differently?’
Ouyang Jue tried to recall the events of his past life, but his memory was hazy.
It must have been something trivial.
But because of that event, Ouyang Jue’s life had changed.
“I’ll be borrowing it again.”
Ouyang Jue muttered to himself as he lifted the iron spikes.
He didn’t forget to leave a final word for the man.
“Live a life of atonement from now on.”
“...Yessir!”
Watching the man scurry away, Ouyang Jue focused on his work.
He intended to finish the job before the man could pack up all his belongings and flee.