Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Interlude
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Dang Mujin's life returned to its normal rhythm.
Not as a martial artist slicing through foes and wielding poisons, but as a physician tending to farmers' ailments and dispensing medicines.
Of course, this didn't mean he had completely abandoned his martial arts training.
While others complained that training was grueling and painful, Dang Mujin found joy in the subtle changes that accumulated with each session.
However, now that daily life had resumed, there was one crucial matter he needed to settle first: the wedding.
Dang Mujin and Dan Seol-yeong carved out bits of time here and there to prepare for the ceremony. Yet the one most deeply invested in the preparations wasn't the couple themselves, but Dang Jesun.
"Daughter-in-law. How does this look?"
Dang Jesun showed Dan Seol-yeong a bolt of green silk. It was Chokgeum, the finest silk from the Central Plains, renowned far and wide.
Since ancient times, the region around Sichuan Province had been famous for producing the world's highest-quality silk.
Not only Central Plains folk but even merchants from the Western Regions would detour thousands of li westward along trade routes just to buy Sichuan silk, which said everything about its superior quality without need for further praise.
And the silk Dang Jesun now presented to Dan Seol-yeong was the very best among Sichuan's offerings.
Of course, it didn't come cheap. Even bought directly from the source, the price was eye-wateringly high.
To make matters worse, he'd had to pay extra to jump the queue ahead of other eager merchants, to the point where it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the clinic's entire yearly earnings went into that single bolt.
On top of that, Dang Jesun planned to entrust it to the most skilled tailor to have a dress made, meaning the expenses were far from over.
But Dan Seol-yeong was quite frugal by nature, so ever since hearing about the clothing costs, she'd been fidgeting uncomfortably.
At this rate, it was getting hard to tell whether the silk dress was getting married or she was.
"Father, isn't this too expensive?"
"It's not for just anyone—it's for my daughter-in-law. I can afford this much. Besides, the clinic's been doing well lately, and Mujin brings in a big sum every now and then, so we're fine."
Dan Seol-yeong still looked uneasy, unable to shake her worries. In the end, Dang Jesun let out a hearty laugh.
"It's alright. If it bothers you, just cherish the dress and pass it down to your children. If they wear clothes made from this silk at their own weddings, it'll more than pay for itself."
Dang Jesun imagined his unborn grandchildren—and even those grandchildren wearing green silk wedding attire. His lips curved into a smile all on their own.
Truth be told, even without thinking that far ahead, he'd long wanted to get her something nice like this.
Not only had she come from a far-off land, but she'd always pulled her weight without complaint. If anything, he felt guilty for not having spoiled her more until now.
Dan Seol-yeong hesitated before asking,
"But doesn't Mujin need clothes too?"
"That boy can make do with something cheaper—just fancy enough to look the part. He's never been one to fuss over his appearance."
"..."
"No need to worry. If he wants something nicer, he'll figure it out himself. You know as well as I do that he makes good money whenever he heads to the forge."
Dang Mujin cared about clothes as little as Dan Seol-yeong did. His philosophy was that as long as they served their purpose, that was enough.
Naturally, he couldn't wear his everyday garb to the wedding, so as Dang Jesun said, he'd need a new outfit from somewhat more affordable silk.
But even that would be prohibitively expensive for an ordinary person in a lifetime.
While Dang Jesun handled the overall wedding arrangements and doted on Dan Seol-yeong, Dang Mujin focused less on formal attire and more on the guests gathering for the occasion.
Familiar neighborhood folk, fellow physicians who'd studied under his father and uncles, out-of-towners who'd quietly settled in Chengdu after the blacksmiths' invitation, people who'd left the Demonic Cult and now lived near the clinic. Even that group alone was quite a crowd.
Moreover, thanks to the notices sent out before departing for Yangyang, people from various parts of the Central Plains began trickling in.
The elderly blacksmith Feng from Zhongqing where he'd stayed briefly, a couple of folks he'd bonded with in Luoyang alongside Dan Seol-yeong, three or four from the village below Shaolin Temple, a pair from Mount Nogun, and so on.
For them, it was a chance to travel through Sichuan with expenses covered—no reason to refuse.
As the guests arrived, Qingcheng Sect's Yellow Spirit Master and Jin Song puffed up with a strange sense of pride.
The prestige of being a Qingcheng martial artist carried weight anywhere, and people showed deference before Yellow Spirit Master and Jin Song.
"Hmm."
Lately, Jin Song's days hadn't been as enjoyable as before. He could overlook Dang Mujin's rising prowess, but the problem was all the experts who'd planted themselves around the Dang Clinic.
Relatively speaking, his own skills now seemed modest, so folks who used to fawn over him now treated him like just another local who'd picked up some martial arts.
But these out-of-towners showed him proper respect. For the first time in a while, Jin Song savored a subtle sense of superiority.
However, as uninvited guests began showing up, Jin Song had to adopt an even humbler demeanor than usual.
First came Shaolin's Manryeok Monk Cheonguk—already pegged as the next transcendent master—and a few of the temple's warrior monks. The next day, Eagle Brain Sword Nangong Jin-ya, younger brother of Nangong Family head Nangong Se and uncle to Nangong Myeong, arrived with three Nangong warriors in tow.
Their reputations dwarfed those of Yellow Spirit Master or Jin Song.
Jin Song asked Yellow Spirit Master,
"...Master. What in the world has Mujin been up to in his travels?"
"Who knows. I've got no idea."
But they were just the beginning. Next arrived Emei Sect's leader, Hyangbaek Sat-ae, accompanied by a few nuns.
Hyangbaek Sat-ae's acquaintance with Dang Mujin was rather superficial, so she hadn't wanted to attend the wedding herself.
The distance from Mount Emei to Chengdu wasn't too far, but the issue was that Hwayeon Divine Nun was certain to show up.
Sending underlings would only invite Hwayeon Divine Nun to storm Emei Sect with complaints starting, "Jongsoon-ah, you..." It was a foregone conclusion, so like it or not, she had to make the trip to the Dang Clinic.
With things unfolding this way, the martial artists from afar grew inwardly flustered.
They'd figured their own big names would draw wide-eyed awe, but the place was crawling with heavyweights.
'This isn't some major sect leader's precious daughter's wedding, or a high official marrying off his son. What the hell...'
The subtle rivalry between Shaolin, Nangong Family, and Emei didn't last long.
It faded into the background the moment Hwayeon Divine Nun and Three-Eyed Buddha appeared.
A retired transcendent master in his anecdotally rejuvenated old age showing up chummily alongside a notorious great demonic figure from the Central Plains.
Ordinary guests with no martial ties had no clue what was happening, but those with some skill grew anxious, sensing something grave might unfold here.
Naturally, with such a crowd, there were plenty of awkward pairings.
For instance, Shaolin's Manryeok Monk took issue with Three-Eyed Buddha's presence. But with no way to subdue him alongside the other monks here—and unwilling to turn the wedding into a brawl—he had to pretend not to notice.
At last, the wedding began.
The sedan chair departed from the Dang Clinic's courtyard, headed east toward Henan, circled the village, then returned.
All eyes turned to Dan Seol-yeong descending from the chair, and to Dang Mujin awaiting her.
There were no elaborate rituals. The couple bowed to each other, then together to a beaming Dang Jesun. That was it.
The guests raised their voices in hearty congratulations, and the feast stretched late into the night.
And Mok Wan-a crouched in a corner, gazing dispiritedly at Dang Mujin.
*
Time passed, and one winter evening, Dan Seol-yeong gave birth to a daughter.
Dang Jesun promptly named his granddaughter Dang Yeong, imbuing it with wishes for her long life.
Born less than eight months after the wedding, she should have been a premature babe, yet Dang Yeong was sturdier than many full-term infants.
A premature child stronger than average? It was odd by any measure. But among those at the Dang Clinic, no one found it strange.
More time flowed by, until Dang Yeong could wiggle her limbs and roll over on her own. Then one day, a man visited the clinic.
He had a slender face but an impression of resolute strength.
Dang Mujin greeted him with clasped hands.
"Is that you, Elder Wi Hwan? How have you been?"
Their connection wasn't long, but it was a face Dang Mujin knew well.
Wi Hwan of Jeongchang Sect, who had been present during Dang Mujin's first clash with Three-Eyed Buddha.
His younger brother Wi Yeong, also a peak expert, had fallen to Three-Eyed Buddha, but Wi Hwan had survived unscathed and returned to his sect.
Had Three-Eyed Buddha crossed paths with Wi Hwan, trouble would have erupted, but fortunately, the man had stepped out for a leisurely stroll.
Wi Hwan gave an awkward smile.
"I'm not old enough to be called 'elder' yet."
"But calling you 'brother' feels off with our age gap."
"True enough. I've passed forty..."
Wi Hwan smiled gently, eyes crinkling. Yet a faint unease and impatience lingered in his gaze.
So Dang Mujin cut straight to it.
"Anyway, what brings you here?"
"I need your help with something urgent. Coming after so long just to ask a favor—it's shameless, I know..."
"It's fine. We survived mortal peril together, didn't we? What kind of help do you need?"
Wi Hwan hesitated a moment before speaking.
"It's about Jin-gwang."
"Hero Yu? Then isn't it an internal Jeongchang Sect matter?"
"It's not that simple. Yu Jin-gwang never returned to the sect. He veered off somewhere along the way."
"Pardon?"
Wi Hwan's voice lacked strength.
"After winning big against the Myeonggeum Clan leader in that bet, Yu Jin-gwang's demeanor shifted oddly. He used to live carefree, but suddenly he seemed burdened with worries, then vanished without heading back to Jeongchang."
"Hmm. Do you know where he went?"
"To track his movements, the sect leader and I made constant inquiries. Word just came in recently—a man resembling Yu Jin-gwang has been spotted wandering northern Shaanxi."
Shaanxi. A decent enough place to get by.
But Wi Hwan's tone carried a subtle darkness. Suspecting as much, Dang Mujin pressed,
"...Did he cross into Shaanxi Province?"
"Yes."
Up to Shaanxi remained within the Central Plains and the righteous sects' sphere of influence.
Beyond that, things changed. A region where righteous martial artists held almost no sway. A land dominated by unorthodox fighters.
"Could I hear more details?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself. But rumors say he's been slaughtering people indiscriminately."
Dang Mujin could guess why Wi Hwan had sought him out.
No physician in the land outshone Dang Mujin, and none but he could treat ailments tied to the martial world.
If there was one man in the Central Plains who could intervene when demonic qi had burrowed into the marrow, it was surely Dang Mujin.
But there was another issue at play.
"Have you met Hero Yu in person?"
Wi Hwan shook his head.
"No. Our sect warriors scoured the north, but we never found him. Northern Shaanxi is vast territory."
"As you know, I can't resolve something like that."
"I know. That's why I need you and Hong Geolgae's help too. I'm ashamed to ask..."
Wi Hwan fidgeted with his fingers, genuinely apologetic toward Dang Mujin.
But Dang Mujin didn't grasp what he meant.
"Hong Geolgae? Why him all of a sudden?"
Wi Hwan looked at Dang Mujin and explained.
"Hong the Young Hero has ridiculously good luck, doesn't he? If you two head north together, you're bound to find Yu Jin-gwang."
It sounded absurd, but Wi Hwan's words carried conviction.