Chapter 285
Chapter 285
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 285
Chapter Title: Kaifeng
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The moment he heard the blue-eyed woman's story, Hyeon-gong's mind raced furiously.
'It's regrettable that her manual was stolen, but it might actually be a stroke of good fortune for me.'
'Teaching martial arts to an outsider wouldn't have been an easy decision. If that outsider stole the manual and treasures before fleeing, no amount of lives could wash away the sin. It'd make them sworn enemies worthy of the title.'
'It's an age-old truth that helping with revenge is the surest way to win a woman's heart.'
Helping with her revenge would certainly win the blue-eyed woman's heart.
No need to bandy about talk of favors. They'd shared hardships together in this distant land, after all.
Moreover, whether this blue-eyed woman belonged to a sect or a clan, neither would oppose a relationship with Hyeon-gong.
If he avenged her clan's enemy in their stead, they might even step forward first to arrange the marriage.
Hyeon-gong organized his thoughts and spoke in a voice that carried considerable trustworthiness.
"You should think of it as heaven's aid. You've come to the right place. That letter was written jointly by me and my friend, and I'm someone with a grudge against Baek Hyanga as well."
When the blue-eyed man relayed Hyeon-gong's words, disbelief flickered across the blue-eyed woman's face. It was a situation too coincidental for anyone to accept at face value.
"It may be hard to believe, but it's the absolute truth. Baek Hyanga is a woman with skin so fair it's almost transparent, and hair and eyes strikingly black, isn't she? About this tall."
Hyeon-gong recalled capturing Baek Hyanga as a hostage and raised his palm to shoulder height.
Knowing her appearance and height so precisely proved effective, as the blue-eyed woman's voice softened noticeably.
After hearing the relayed words, the blue-eyed woman said something, and the blue-eyed man passed it on once more.
"She asks what your connection to Baek Hyanga is."
"I played a major role in killing Baek Hyanga's master. And among my friends is a fellow with an even deeper grudge than mine."
Hyeon-gong did have ties to Baek Hyanga, but Dang Mujin went far beyond that.
He had killed Baek Hyanga's father outright and lent a hand in slaying her master as well.
In Hyeon-gong's mind, Dang Mujin was Baek Hyanga's natural predator, a hunting dog prowling her periphery.
Yet the blue-eyed woman still seemed skeptical.
Hyeon-gong crossed his arms confidently and continued.
"Didn't you see my friends at the inn? If you don't believe me, go back and ask them. They'll tell you exactly the same story."
Hyeon-gong's tone and demeanor were so assured that continued suspicion felt difficult.
In the end, the blue-eyed woman spoke directly.
". . . Really?"
"I swear on my life, not a single word of falsehood. My nickname is Jeong-eon—meaning one who never lies. Even if I were to deceive you, what would I gain? I'm merely a Wudang Taoist who wishes to aid someone in distress."
Upon receiving Hyeon-gong's words, the blue-eyed woman's expression visibly brightened.
She must have agonized endlessly over navigating this complex ordeal in a land whose language she barely understood.
Stumbling over her words, the woman said,
"Help!"
"I will."
Hyeon-gong answered without hesitation, and the blue-eyed woman leapt with joy, extending both hands to grasp his.
The moment he felt the soft touch against his skin, Hyeon-gong was struck by a profound dizziness.
Just as he'd heard tales of before, a woman's hand was incomparably softer than a man's. That subtle, slender, delicate sensation.
Unconsciously, Hyeon-gong curled his fingers slightly, but the blue-eyed woman showed no sign of unease.
'This reaction...!'
It took only a breath for images of a son and daughter to form in Hyeon-gong's mind.
He could vividly see children blooming with laughter as they dashed about the somewhat dull and drab Wudang grounds.
'Lord Yeongbo cherished children. He'll surely be delighted if I have kids.'
'He's too frail to move about much anyway, so I should tell him to step down as sect leader soon and look after the children.'
'I can become sect leader early, which is good for me, and Lord Yeongbo won't be lonely playing with the kids... It's win-win.'
Hyeon-gong's chest swelled as if it might burst.
*
Dang Mujin's group lounged idly at the inn, waiting for Shaolin Temple and the Beggars' Sect to make their move.
The situation wouldn't start until figures like Sinseung, Manryeokseung, or Sect Leader Hwaha Nogae appeared—and none had shown up yet.
As another ordinary day drew to a close, the inn door opened, and Hyeon-gong entered.
But Hyeon-gong's expression was strangely bright. The distance between him and the blue-eyed woman seemed a touch closer.
The blue-eyed woman and Hyeon-gong approached and sat at the table where Dang Mujin's group was gathered.
Hyeon-gong was one thing, but the blue-eyed woman joining them was a first since arriving in Kaifeng.
Adopting a slightly more arrogant posture than usual, leaning back a bit, Hyeon-gong spoke.
"I had a talk with Seolhwa here, and you all should know a bit about it too."
". . . Seolhwa?"
"That's this young lady's name. She hails from that far northern land, and her real name's too unfamiliar, so we've settled on Seolhwa—Snowflake—for now."
A subtle familiarity laced Hyeon-gong's tone.
Dang Mujin, Nangong Myeong, and even Hong Geolgae felt a faint aversion from that satisfied voice.
"What are we supposed to know?"
"Well..."
Hyeon-gong launched into a lengthy, rambling explanation.
To sum it up simply: Baek Hyanga had gone north, stolen martial arts manuals, treasures—everything—so let's join forces to take her down.
But contrary to Hyeon-gong's expectations, Dang Mujin's reaction was exceedingly lukewarm.
"Do we really have to?"
"My marriage hangs in the balance. Help me this once, and I'll be eternally grateful..."
"That's not the issue. It's naturally tragic that her manual was stolen. But punishing Baek Hyanga myself feels a bit off."
To Dang Mujin, Baek Hyanga was a complicated connection.
He held no grudge against her personally, but her father, Baek Chaseo, had deep enmity with him. Hadn't Baek Chaseo instructed Salmak to kill Guui?
Dang Mujin had repaid that by killing Baek Chaseo.
And since Baek Chaseo died poisoned, Baek Hyanga must dimly suspect Dang Mujin's involvement.
The problem was the subsequent entanglements—he'd even killed her master, Muryangja.
True, Yujin-gwang had delivered the final blow, but Dang Mujin's group had certainly contributed.
In short, Baek Hyanga had never harmed Dang Mujin, but one could assume she harbored ill feelings.
However, considering the current situation, Dang Mujin was closer to the perpetrator, which was the issue.
Propping his chin, Dang Mujin said,
"If the theft is true, Baek Hyanga is undoubtedly guilty. But she's never harmed me. Killing her father, her master, and now her too feels overly harsh. The manual issue should be between Baek Hyanga and Seolhwa to settle."
"Didn't I say she probably holds a grudge against you?"
"That's just speculation. Killing on a hunch isn't the way of righteous martial artists. Besides, expecting no grudge after I killed her father and master would be the strange thing."
"Is that so? If it's natural to hold a grudge, you'll overlook it if she tries to harm you?"
When Hyeon-gong pointed that out, Dang Mujin replied quite calmly.
"No. If she acts on it, I won't stand idle. I just won't strike first. Baek Hyanga has two choices: bury the grudge and live quietly, or reveal it to me and die."
Surprisingly, Dang Mujin's words were highly logical, with clear principles.
'This guy's sloppy most days, but sharp when it counts.'
As Hyeon-gong faltered without further retort, Seolhwa—who had been gauging the mood—slammed the table with her palms.
Unfamiliar with the Central Plains tongue, Seolhwa couldn't follow the intricate exchange between Hyeon-gong and Dang Mujin.
But she could tell Hyeon-gong's persuasion wasn't landing.
In the end, Seolhwa marshaled every Central Plains word she knew to lay out her logic.
"Thief bad."
Theft was wrong, so punishing the thief Baek Hyanga was just.
It was a brilliantly clear and sound argument, but one person disagreed.
Nangong Myeong scowled.
"How can you so hastily deem a thief bad? What a narrow-minded woman."
Hyeon-gong panicked. Both Nangong Myeong and Dang Mujin—reactions weren't as expected.
Left like this, things might veer off in an unforeseen direction.
Hyeon-gong made a decision.
Seolhwa didn't grasp Central Plains speech well, so wrap it up neatly and gloss over.
Feigning cheer, Hyeon-gong concluded the talk.
"Alright. That's enough for today— we'll discuss the rest later."
"Fine... whatever."
The friends resumed lounging as if they'd never been serious. Guiding Seolhwa upstairs, Hyeon-gong sorted his thoughts.
'Baek Hyanga wandering the north causing trouble instead of returning to righteous murim means she's thoroughly gone astray.'
'A twisted disposition, and likely a grudge simmering inside. We'll clash someday.'
'No rush. Better if it drags out rather than ending with Baek Hyanga swiftly hunted down and the journey over. Relationships between men and women deepen with shared time, after all.'
Yes. No need to hurry. Hyeon-gong told Seolhwa,
"Young Lady Seolhwa, trust only me."
"Yeah!"
Seolhwa beamed. A smile bloomed on Hyeon-gong's face in response.
Pondering names for his future grandchildren, Hyeon-gong descended to the inn's first floor.
*
The next day, two groups of swordless martial artists flooded into Kaifeng.
One was Shaolin Temple monks. Sinseung and Manryeokseung were there, along with a host of familiar faces.
The Shaolin monks wore gravely serious expressions, but lit up with joy upon spotting Dang Mujin. The graver the situation, the more people crave reasons to smile.
Though visibly exhausted, the monks approached Dang Mujin without even sitting.
"Hey, I wasn't sure from afar, but it really is Layman Dang!"
"Long time no see."
As Dang Mujin smiled and offered a pressed-hands greeting, the monks erupted in excitement.
"I heard through Manryeokseung! You became Dang Family Head and took Sichuan in hand already? Never dreamed that young physician from back then would rise so high!"
"Oh, don't say it like everyone thought that. I knew Layman Dang would become someone great one day. You're the only one who lacked the insight."
Dang Mujin smiled at the monks.
A few young ones stood out in particular. When Dang Mujin had last visited Shaolin Temple, they must have been novice monks.
'Time has flown.'
Dang Mujin's gaze shifted beyond the monks' shoulders. The Discipline Hall Leader stood a short distance away, watching Dang Mujin converse with the monks to let them forget their fatigue.
But as time passed without the monks dispersing, the Discipline Hall Leader approached and spoke sternly.
"Don't act so frivolously. Even if you wish to enjoy the reunion, rest and recover your vigor first."
"Understood."
The monks hurried back to the inn, and the Discipline Hall Leader secretly smiled at Dang Mujin.
A smile confirming the Leader hadn't changed. Though rivers and mountains might alter, the Leader would remain steadfast, an anchor for Shaolin Temple.
Watching the monks' retreating backs, Dang Mujin inwardly marveled.
'Two super elites, and nearly twenty peak experts...'
As expected, the Shaolin monks' caliber was extraordinary.
A force befitting the acknowledged eldest brother of righteous murim.
However, of the monks, only Sinseung and Manryeokseung paid attention to Hong Geolgae beside Dang Mujin.
Sinseung and Manryeokseung subtly admired Hong Geolgae, but the others treated him like human scenery.
As the Shaolin monks departed, Beggars' Sect disciples came into view. Leading them was an elder whose open robes revealed a flower tattoo.
'A flower tattoo. That must be Hwaha Nogae. His attainment falls short of Geolsun's, for sure.'
The Beggars' Sect disciples weren't as illustrious as the Shaolin monks.
Still, they weren't to be dismissed. Even gathering only their higher-skilled members outmatched most Daoist sects in numbers.
'Shaolin and Beggars' Sect combined surpass the combined might of Qingcheng, Zhongnan, Huashan, and Wudang.'
Normally he'd rejoice at such allied strength, but now Dang Mujin could only tense.
If Geolsun died despite facing such power, it meant the northeastern unorthodox forces were even more dangerous than those in the northwest.
Weary to the bone, Hwaha Nogae and the Beggars' Sect disciples sprawled across seats, heedless of Righteous or Filthy subgroups.
Just as Dang Mujin had drawn the Shaolin monks' eyes, the Beggars' Sect glanced at Hong Geolgae.
A beggar hard to peg as Righteous or Filthy, bearing five knots.
Young for his decent skill, but somewhat overshadowed by Dang Mujin, Hyeon-gong, and Nangong Myeong beside him.
Pointing at Hong Geolgae, Hwaha Nogae said,
"A new face. What's your name?"
Hong Geolgae approached with somewhat hesitant steps, offered a pressed-hands greeting before Hwaha Nogae, and stated his name.
"I'm Hong Jusam."
"Hong Jusam... Gui-cho-gae, then. Your talent's as rumored—not bad."
It sounded like praise at first, but Hwaha Nogae's voice held subtle disappointment. Clearly, he'd unconsciously compared him to Dang Mujin's group.
His tone carried an oddly arrogant edge too.
Hong Geolgae's heart pounded wildly with excitement.
But he desperately concealed his inner thrill, replying in a slightly subdued voice.
"I'll strive harder."
"Good. Put in more effort. Effort never betrays."
Hwaha Nogae dismissed him with a perfunctory wave.
Unseen by the Beggars' Sect and Hwaha Nogae, Dang Mujin's group spotted the阴郁 smile filling Hong Geolgae's face.
Gazing at that smile, Dang Mujin resolved himself.
'Now I'm the only normal one left. Guess even I need to keep my wits sharp.'