Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Zhongnan Sect
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With Wudang Mountain set as their destination, heading straight northeast from Zhongqing would get them there without much trouble.
However, the group decided to veer a bit further north and pass through the Zhongnan Sect first. It was certain to add about five days to their journey.
This was due to the adamant insistence of Yeongheo Daoist, the head of the Qingcheng Sect.
When asked why, Yeongheo Daoist replied nonchalantly. He simply wanted to visit the Zhongnan Sect after such a long time—that was the entire reason.
But while that might fly if he were traveling alone, there was no sense in extending the route for eight people just for that.
Dang Mujin suspected Yeongheo Daoist had some other motive, though he couldn't guess what it was.
After pondering for a good while, Dang Mujin casually probed if anyone knew the real reason for visiting the Zhongnan Sect. He didn't expect much.
Yet, unexpectedly, someone had figured out Yeongheo Daoist's intentions.
It was Hyun-gong.
Hyun-gong answered flatly.
"That's it? He's going ahead to drag the Zhongnan Sect to the conference in case they skip it."
But Dang Mujin couldn't make sense of Hyun-gong's response.
"Why would the Zhongnan Sect skip? They're the closest sect to Wudang."
"The Zhongnan Sect hates Wudang. They rarely cooperate because of it."
"Was there some reason for the bad blood?"
Hyun-gong replied with a subtle expression.
"They hardly ever cross paths, so what bad blood could there be? It's just that the Zhongnan Sect folks are petty by nature and love nitpicking over all sorts of trivial excuses."
Hyun-gong tried to gloss over the reason for the Zhongnan Sect's dislike of Wudang with vague words.
However, Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae picked up on the fact that there was more to the story.
They noticed Namgung Myeong smirking with a grin.
It was clearly the face of someone who knew something.
"Namgung Myeong. You know something, don't you?"
"Ahem. When you're the eldest son of a major clan, you end up knowing things like this whether you want to or not."
"What's the reason?"
As Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae pressed him, Hyun-gong quietly gestured threateningly at Namgung Myeong.
But Namgung Myeong wasn't fazed in the slightest.
They'd never been the type to scare each other off anyway, and lately, Namgung Myeong's skills had edged slightly ahead of Hyun-gong's.
Still, earning Hyun-gong's grudge could lead to backlash in unpredictable ways. Namgung Myeong spoke as if there were no helping it.
"They're asking, so I have to answer, right?"
"You're just going to spout nonsense."
"Don't worry, I'll keep it as objective as possible."
Hyun-gong made a displeased face before stepping away to join Eun Seonrim and Jin Hae.
Lately, Eun Seonrim and Jin Hae had been following Hyun-gong around suspiciously closely.
With Hyun-gong gone and just the three of them left, Hong Geolgae urged Namgung Myeong on.
"Come on, explain already."
"The story's a bit long... Well, we've got a ways to go, so it works out. You know the Zhongnan Sect is one of the oldest among the Daoist sects, right?"
Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae nodded in unison.
No one knew for sure which was the very first Daoist sect.
However, there was broad agreement that one of three was the original.
The Gongdong Sect, claiming descent from Guangchengzi, the ancient sage from high antiquity.
The Qingcheng Sect of Qingcheng Mountain, said to be the birthplace of Daoism.
The Zhongnan Sect of Zhongnan Mountain, also claiming to be Daoism's origin.
All three had fairly convincing claims, so there was no way to know the truth. They couldn't exactly ask sages from centuries ago.
A sudden thought struck him, so Dang Mujin asked Namgung Myeong.
"Did Wudang ever claim to have a deeper history than Zhongnan?"
Namgung Myeong immediately waved it off.
"Of course not. Everyone knows Wudang is a new sect. This is a bit more practical."
Namgung Myeong pulled a wooden plank from his baggage and scratched a crude map on its surface with a small awl.
A map showing only central Zhongyuan, tilted slightly north: Shaanxi, Hubei, and Henan.
He marked a dot in Shaanxi, then another further west in Gansu.
"To understand, you need to know the Zhongnan Sect's location. The dot in Shaanxi is Zhongnan, and the one in Gansu is Gongdong. Two sects with long histories. No issues up to here. They got along fine."
"Hmm."
In other words, problems arose after that.
As Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae murmured in agreement, Namgung Myeong marked another dot northeast of Zhongnan, still in Shaanxi.
"There's Huashan Sect around here. You've heard of them, right?"
"Of course."
Dang Mujin answered and eyed the map. Zhongnan and Huashan weren't all that far apart. Compared to the distance between Zhongnan and Gongdong, it was about half.
As he studied the map, Namgung Myeong added a note.
"Oh, right. Zhongnan hates Wudang, but they hate Huashan just about as much."
"Why hate Huashan?"
"Both are in Shaanxi Province. Zhongnan didn't mind much when Huashan first appeared, but as soon as Huashan started gaining power, trouble brewed."
"What kind?"
"Everyone in the area who wanted to learn martial arts or cultivate the Dao flocked to Huashan instead of Zhongnan. Like a rolling stone displacing the one already embedded."
Hong Geolgae asked, puzzled.
"Zhongnan's history is much longer, though? Why go to Huashan instead?"
"Huashan won the competition with some clever trick. They weren't big on Dao cultivation or advancing martial arts—they focused on dazzling people with bizarre skills, or so they say. Oh, this isn't my opinion; it's what a Zhongnan Daoist I met once told me. Don't misunderstand."
What could that bizarre skill be? At that moment, a certain rumor flashed in Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae's minds.
"No way... plum blossom fragrance?"
"Exactly."
There was a rumor that practicing Huashan swordsmanship filled the air with plum blossom scent.
Whether it was true was impossible to verify without meeting a Huashan warrior, but it was hugely famous. Even Dang Mujin, who'd lived in Chengdu in Sichuan, had heard it.
They said Huashan even had people called Plum Blossom Sword Disciples or something.
Namgung Myeong continued.
"Zhongnan's martial arts are as profound as their long history. But it's hard to explain that profundity to ordinary folks."
He lowered his voice again so the others wouldn't hear.
"Huashan, though? They can make it vivid. A Huashan expert's sword carries the scent of plum blossoms, and when they unleash it, plum shapes bloom in the air. Easy to describe. If you've never learned swordsmanship, which would you pick—Zhongnan or Huashan?"
"...Huashan."
"Right."
The answer was obvious.
Huashan, with its clear plum blossom hook, was far more appealing than Zhongnan, whose features were indescribable despite its history.
The descriptions even sounded poetic.
"And I think it was subtly provocative toward Zhongnan. By using 'plum blossoms,' they slyly linked it to Nan Caihe, the immortal Zhongnan Daoists love, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
Nan Caihe was a famous Daoist immortal, known for always carrying a flower basket.
From Huashan plum blossoms to Nan Caihe with his flower basket—the association flowed naturally. Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae marveled at Huashan's cunning ingenuity.
It was an entertaining tale, but Dang Mujin realized it strayed from the point.
He pointed it out sharply.
"But that's about Zhongnan and Huashan, not Zhongnan and Wudang. Why the bad blood with Wudang?"
"Look at Wudang's location."
Namgung Myeong added another dot to the map.
Southeast of Zhongnan, just as close as the distance to Huashan.
It was as if Gongdong to the west, Huashan to the northeast, and Wudang to the southeast had Zhongnan surrounded on three sides.
"Think of this not as sects, but inns. Could an inn surrounded by rivals like this do business?"
"...No."
"Exactly. Zhongnan's decline from its proud traditions is undoubtedly due to Gongdong, Wudang, and Huashan. They can't help Gongdong since it's an even match, but Wudang and Huashan grate on them."
The three glanced at Hyun-gong. His ears twitched slightly.
Even while chatting with Eun Seonrim and Jin Hae, he'd been eavesdropping on their conversation.
So Namgung Myeong added,
"Of course, this is a Zhongnan Daoist's story. It might be heavily biased, so judge the facts yourself."
"Ah, obviously. It felt like a Zhongnan tale the moment I heard it."
The three exchanged smirks.
Who told it didn't matter much to them.
"Anyway, when Wudang first formed, Zhongnan's sect leader came and tried to chase away Wudang's founding master. Wudang Mountain's a dubious holy site for Daoism at best, so nesting there looked shady to anyone."
"But Wudang ended up settling on Wudang Mountain anyway?"
Namgung Myeong nodded.
"Wudang's founder, True Man Jang Sambong, was the supreme martial artist of his era."
"Ah..."
"True Man Jang Sambong became the world's best before forty, and stayed that way past a hundred. Rumor has it he lived over a hundred twenty."
That meant over eighty years as the unrivaled top.
More than enough time for a newcomer to uproot the established.
Dang Mujin felt a twinge of sympathy for Zhongnan's Daoists.
As they chatted idly, the group reached the base of Zhongnan Mountain.
*
The moment they arrived at the Zhongnan Sect, Dang Mujin couldn't help comparing it to Wudang.
Unlike the impeccably maintained neatness of Wudang, it had a subtly rundown air. Foot traffic was oddly sparse too. Spoken kindly, it was serene; harshly, the typical look of a declining sect.
As the group approached the main gate, one of two young Daoists guarding it asked,
"Where do you hail from?"
There wasn't a trace of hostility in the young Daoist's voice.
It wasn't because he recognized Yeongheo Daoist or White Crane Nun. He was just glad for visitors to break the boredom.
Their attire suggested they weren't dangerous either.
Yeongheo Daoist replied.
"I am Yeongheo Daoist of Qingcheng Sect, this is White Crane Nun of Emei Sect. Beside her is the Poison Dragon of the Dang family."
Yeongheo Daoist introduced the three who could be called the group's leaders in turn. Though unintentional, it oddly positioned them as equals.
Namgung Myeong and Hyun-gong subtly hoped their names would be called too, but of course, that didn't happen.
The two Zhongnan Daoists were stunned at the sudden appearance of heavyweights like Yeongheo Daoist and White Crane Nun.
"Please wait a moment!"
One young Daoist dashed inside.
Soon, a Daoist who seemed of decent rank appeared.
The Daoist cupped his hands toward Yeongheo Daoist.
"It's been a long time."
"We've met before, I think. Sungcheon Daoist, was it? Don't take it amiss if my memory's off."
A smile bloomed on the Daoist's face.
"You remember exactly. What brings you here?"
"To meet an old acquaintance. Is Ilsun Daoist inside?"
Ilsun was the Zhongnan Sect leader's Daoist title.
Sungcheon Daoist shook his head at Yeongheo Daoist's question.
"He left for Wudang Mountain two days ago."
"I see."
Contrary to expectations, Ilsun Daoist seemed willing to attend the conference without fuss.
It wouldn't be wise to defy it from such a short distance anyway.
Yeongheo Daoist nodded, and Sungcheon Daoist said,
"You've come all this way—stay the night."
"Well..."
Yeongheo Daoist was about to accept when he glanced at Hyun-gong.
Hyun-gong looked uncomfortable with the situation, so Yeongheo Daoist changed his mind on the spot.
"No, that's fine. I came to see someone I know, and if they're not here, it's right to leave."
Sungcheon Daoist understood, so he didn't press them to stay.
*
The group descended Zhongnan Mountain and took rooms at an ordinary inn.
Four rooms. They planned two per room.
But even after dinner, as they prepared for bed, Namgung Myeong seemed distracted, his expression dazed.
Dang Mujin asked him,
"What's up?"
"Huh? Oh... nothing."
That was the end of Namgung Myeong's explanation.
But anyone could see it wasn't normal. His hands trembled now and then, and he paced the inn's backyard like a dog desperate to relieve itself.
Dang Mujin debated asking again what was wrong but let it go.
A man doesn't meddle in another man's business, after all.
Namgung Myeong, who'd been wandering restlessly, entered his room earlier than anyone and went to bed.
Dang Mujin polished his sword beside him for a bit before lying down too. Exhausted from the constant travel, he fell asleep quickly.
But before morning came, Dang Mujin woke.
After staying home lately, sleeping away felt uncomfortable.
The absence of Dan Seolyeong or Mok Wana beside him felt strangely off. There was also a nagging sense of skipping his bedtime routine.
Dang Mujin glanced at the spot next to him. He'd cracked his eyes open, not wanting to lose the sleepiness.
He expected Namgung Myeong to be sleeping there, but surprisingly, the spot was empty.
Dang Mujin straightened up and closed his eyes again.
'Probably at the outhouse.'
As sleep crept back, he sensed movement.
An unusually faint presence. So familiar he knew who without looking. Namgung Myeong.
But something was off. The presence came from the direction of his head.
'The room door's at the foot.'
Dang Mujin cracked his eyes open and looked up. Sure enough, Namgung Myeong.
The problem was that Namgung Myeong, dressed in black, was climbing in through the window.
And in Namgung Myeong's hand was a sword Dang Mujin had never seen before—extremely worn.
The sight of that sword sent a chill down Dang Mujin's spine.
Dang Mujin bolted upright, and Namgung Myeong jumped in surprise.
Dang Mujin stammered,
"No way... you did it?"
"...Couldn't hold back."
Namgung Myeong grinned sheepishly.
His face held no guilt—just satisfaction and excitement.