Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: True Footstep
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The next morning, as soon as they stepped out of their room, they saw the innkeeper wearing a sullen expression.
Hong Geolgae thought to himself as he looked at the innkeeper.
'Is he feeling the dignity of the Vice Branch Leader?'
Of course, that wasn't it. Dang Mujin pointed toward the outside of the inn and said,
"Those people... how did they know to come find us?"
There were dozens of beggars outside the inn. The innkeeper seemed worried they would interfere with business.
The original plan had been to finish breakfast before leaving the inn.
But the three of them skipped their meal and hurried out like they were being chased. Eating while facing the innkeeper's dissatisfied expression would surely give them indigestion.
As the trio stepped onto the street, the beggars parted to both sides, creating a path. Dang Mujin and Namgung Myeong found the scene burdensome, but Hong Geolgae's reaction was different.
His two feet traced a wide figure-eight as he moved slowly, and his shoulders were raised at least three inches higher than usual.
Just a bit more and his shoulders would touch his ears. Even passing the imperial exams wouldn't make someone strut that proudly.
Under the guidance of the beggars surrounding them, Dang Mujin's group arrived at the Red-Faced Old Beggar's residence. It wasn't particularly luxurious. It seemed like the kind of house someone might live in if they ran a small shop nearby and scraped by without starving.
"You've arrived."
The Red-Faced Old Beggar greeted them as if he'd known Hong Geolgae was coming, with the same polite demeanor as the night before.
Hong Geolgae, standing tall with puffed-up pride, opened his mouth.
"I've come because I have some questions."
"What are you curious about?"
Hong Geolgae tossed out a rather unimpressive question.
"It's great to become Vice Branch Leader, but what am I supposed to do from now on?"
"Occasionally, instructions come down from headquarters, and you carry them out. But such instructions are rare, so you don't need to worry about it."
"And what else? Or is there anything else?"
Hong Geolgae subtly tried to speak down to the Red-Faced Old Beggar but switched his tone midway.
Their positions did create an overwhelming superior-subordinate relationship. However, speaking casually to an elder felt awkward and uncomfortable for Hong Geolgae.
Moreover, the Red-Faced Old Beggar was a peak-level expert. Though unlikely, if he took offense to Hong Geolgae's attitude, it could lead to a very troublesome situation.
"If issues involving Beggars' Sect stations arise from time to time, handle them at your discretion. It won't be difficult. All station leaders will respect the Vice Branch Leader's authority."
"Hmm."
Hong Geolgae nodded. He liked the word "authority" very much.
The Red-Faced Old Beggar added one more thing.
"The truly important thing is not to start any major undertakings."
"What does that mean?"
"Neither I nor you, Vice Branch Leader, have deep learning. Given our backgrounds."
Hong Geolgae nodded again, and the Red-Faced Old Beggar continued his explanation.
"People like us without deep learning can still offer small help and resolve minor disputes. But if we get caught up in ambitions to accomplish great deeds and leave a legacy, we'll run into trouble. Worldly affairs often flow in unwanted directions. Even seemingly easy matters can lead to serious consequences."
The phrasing was elegant, but the point was simple: don't stir up trouble trying to do something unnecessary, and you'll be fine.
Hong Geolgae actually liked that even more. He didn't enjoy complicated matters, nor did he have confidence in handling them well.
He could enjoy the position of Beggars' Sect Vice Branch Leader without any real duties. It was the kind of pleasure without responsibility people often talked about.
Hong Geolgae thought he should soon visit the grave of Ma Jeon-gae that he'd prepared in Zhuul Village.
'As Master said, I've reclaimed my birth father's position. Rest in peace.'
Hong Geolgae asked the Red-Faced Old Beggar,
"What will you do now, elder?"
"It won't change much from before. I'll continue living as an ordinary station member and a member of the Lowly Gate."
"I have a favor to ask."
"Please speak."
"Handle things in Chengdu for the time being. I have urgent business to attend to."
"Understood."
Hong Geolgae dumped even the trivial duties onto the Red-Faced Old Beggar.
But the Red-Faced Old Beggar showed no sign of burden. That probably meant the duties were light.
Well, what duties could there be in leading a band of beggars?
Hong Geolgae turned around grandly. His five-knotted rope sash fluttered dramatically.
*
The three left Chengdu and headed straight for Nogun Mountain. Namgung Myeong said,
"It hasn't been that long, but things have changed a lot."
Unlike before, when the surroundings grew emptier the closer they got to Nogun Mountain, now there were several carts heading toward it and others coming from it. They were herbal merchants who had quickly gathered upon hearing that something had changed at Nogun Mountain.
As the group entered Nakseong Village at the foot of Nogun Mountain, a man who looked a bit over forty raised his hand high.
"It's Young Master Dang!"
But Dang Mujin couldn't recognize him. The face seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn't recall exactly.
"...Who might you be?"
"I'm Bang Ik, the eldest son of Village Head Bang."
They weren't particularly close, but they were acquaintances.
Dang Mujin overlapped the Bang Ik from his memory with the man before him. There were similarities, but without explanation, it would be hard to believe they were the same person—the face had changed that much.
The characteristically gloomy, defeatist expression of Nogun Mountain residents was gone. The gaunt face with protruding cheekbones now had a bit too much flesh. Bang Ik smiled sheepishly.
"I've changed a bit, haven't I?"
"Yes."
Judging by how quickly the weight had piled on, his forearms were cracked white and scarred. It was an excessive change, but it was a relief to see his fortunes improved.
Dang Mujin and Namgung Myeong looked around. The others were much the same. Faces that went beyond ordinary to somewhat plump. It was even more pronounced in the children.
Dang Mujin clicked his tongue softly and said,
"You all look much healthier. But too much fat isn't good for your health."
"I've heard that. But after starving for so long, it's hard to hold back on food."
"Hmm."
Seeing Dang Mujin's sullen reaction, he waved his hands emphatically.
"But don't worry too much. The amount I'm eating is decreasing bit by bit. It seems my sense of limits is returning as the hunger fades."
Dang Mujin nodded.
Well, it didn't feel right to start lecturing lifelong starving people on what to eat so soon.
In any case, they couldn't forget the purpose of coming to Nogun Mountain.
"Where is Elder Pyo Choong?"
"Further in, the house with the pine tree in the yard."
Dang Mujin's group walked toward the house with the pine tree.
Being a pine grown in the mountains, it didn't shoot straight up but twisted this way and that.
At first glance, it seemed unimpressive, but its twisted upward growth suited Pyo Choong well.
Pyo Choong was swinging his sword in the yard, but his eyes widened upon seeing the approaching Dang Mujin and Namgung Myeong. He immediately sheathed his sword and approached Dang Mujin.
"Young Master Dang, Young Master Myeong. Long time no see. The young man behind is a friend, I take it?"
"He's Hong Jusam, a Five-Knot Beggars' Sect member serving as Central Region Vice Branch Leader and Chengdu Branch Leader."
Pyo Choong narrowed his eyes and looked at Hong Geolgae. Hong Geolgae introduced himself again.
"...Hong Geolgae. Friend of these guys."
"I see. Pleased to meet you."
Dang Mujin's gaze was fixed on Pyo Choong's sword. It wasn't the one Dang Mujin had made for him.
"It seems you've gifted the sword I made to your sect."
"Wasn't that the point of making it?"
Dang Mujin laughed upon hearing that.
"Honestly, I thought you might not have delivered it to the Wudang Sect. It's a bit embarrassing to say myself, but my blacksmithing skills are no joke. No one who'd held a sword I'd made ever wanted to let it go."
Pyo Choong and even Namgung Myeong nodded.
"Of course it was a shame. I thought about just taking it back to Nogun Mountain several times. But I know my limits. I can't cross the wall to peak realm."
Martial artists don't grow endlessly stronger just by accumulating experience and insight. Body, mind, and qi must balance to advance to the next stage. That's why people typically reach the next realm around similar ages.
By the standards of prestigious orthodox sects, most enter first-rate in their late twenties to early thirties. Those crossing to peak realm peak in their mid-forties to early fifties.
Pyo Choong was in his early fifties. The perfect age to break through to peak realm.
But that's just when people commonly do it—not that everyone can. In fact, the vast majority hit their limit there and can't advance.
Many deny their limits, crash against them endlessly, and end in frustration. But some let go of attachments at their limit. Pyo Choong was one such person.
"Aren't you regretful?"
"I am, sure. But don't people have their fates?"
Pyo Choong looked at the pine tree in the yard.
"I'm like this pine tree. I should have shot straight up in my youth, but I twisted every which way. Still, I didn't wither and die; I survived and spread my branches wider than others. Not every tree has to grow straight up. I'm satisfied with this."
Pyo Choong smiled softly.
"And because I could be satisfied, I let go of regrets. Coveting such a sword with my meager skill isn't the way of a Daoist. Even peak experts who easily surpass that wall would deem it too precious. For a mere first-rate warrior like me to cling to it would be absurd—like the saying of a pearl necklace on a pig."
Hong Geolgae stealthily hid his green bamboo staff behind his back. Namgung Myeong's mouth twitched as if he were teasing Hong Geolgae via transmission.
"In any case, I should fulfill my duty."
Pyo Choong went behind the house and returned carrying a large lidded jar.
Dang Mujin opened the lid. It was filled with all sorts of venomous things.
Poisonous mushrooms, poisonous herbs. Insects, snakes, lizards, frogs, and the like. Not a pleasant sight.
"Since you left, the villagers have gathered these together. I was worried it might not be enough."
"This should be plenty for now."
Dang Mujin took a deep breath, then plunged his right arm deep into the jar. The living venomous creatures seemed to sense something and clung to the edges, avoiding his hand.
But distancing themselves a little changed nothing.
Dang Mujin closed his eyes and sucked in the poison qi filling the jar. The sticky poison liquid at the bottom drained away, and the living creatures stopped moving.
Dang Mujin's poison core filled up after a long time. A sense of fulfillment slightly different from building inner power through Qi Circulation and Breathing.
Soon his poison core was full, but poison still remained in the jar.
In the past, he would have stopped here, but Dang Mujin continued absorbing.
His poison core and dantian trembled as if unable to hold more, but he ignored it.
Like a dam facing a flood, the poison qi overflowed from his core. In the past, it would have spread through his meridians, killing him, but now it was different. His inner power flowing through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians naturally accepted the poison qi. It felt like his whole body was filled with poison, but only now did Dang Mujin feel truly replete. The jar's contents were reduced to empty husks, and he withdrew his arm.
"Done?"
"Yeah."
Dang Mujin stepped away from the others, shifted his weight, and stomped down with a True Footstep.
It wasn't as destructive as Hwayeon Nun's True Footstep.
But it was no ordinary stomp. Centered on where his foot landed, the surrounding grass lost its vitality and wilted.
'Excellent.'
Dang Mujin looked up with a satisfied expression. But Pyo Choong's face wasn't pleased.
'...What's wrong?'
Dang Mujin followed Pyo Choong's gaze to the side.
The pine tree's leaves in the yard had turned yellow.
Dang Mujin said awkwardly,
"It won't die. Probably."
Of course, he wasn't certain.