Chapter 331
Chapter 331
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 331
Chapter Title: Hometown
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The group from her hometown decided to wait until Tu Hui Wijinanhyang's broken ribs had at least begun to knit back together before leaving Samgu Village.
However, Dang Mujin had something weighing on his mind.
"If Elder Tu Hui leaves the village, won't the unorthodox martial artists come and cause trouble?"
Tu Hui gave a vague response to Dang Mujin's question.
"Well... In recent years, hardly anyone has come around, and things have been quiet..."
"But Cheonpae died in this village."
"Hmm..."
Tu Hui also seemed uneasy about the point Dang Mujin had raised.
But as if she had anticipated Tu Hui's concerns in advance, Kang Jiso spoke up.
"If Cheonpae had let others know his whereabouts, his subordinates would have come with him. I think he came quietly on personal business."
"Well, I can't be certain..."
When Tu Hui couldn't easily shake off her worries, Kang Jiso let out a deep sigh.
"Just go, sister. Are you really going to throw away this chance to never come back?"
Only then did Dang Mujin's group belatedly realize that Kang Jiso called Tu Hui "sister."
The age difference between Tu Hui and Kang Jiso made them look more like parent and child than sisters. The role Tu Hui had played over the past twenty or thirty years was closer to that of a parent than a sibling.
But because of the immense karma Tu Hui had accumulated, she could not be called a mother.
The fact that she was called "sister," and that Kang Jiso had rushed all the way to Lake Dongting to find a physician to treat Wijinanhyang, was already a miraculous mending of their relationship.
"But..."
"Sister, I've learned martial arts too. I'm better than any common thug now. Don't worry and just go."
In truth, ever since she had vanished, the safety of the village had been a constant concern for Wijinanhyang.
Of course, she hadn't imagined she would leave like this. She had only thought that the moment would come when she completely lost her mind or grew too old to pull her weight.
That was why Wijinanhyang had taught martial arts to a few villagers. It meant passing down the Wiji Clan techniques to those with no blood ties to the clan, but they weren't in a position to be picky.
There was no one with particular talent, and Kang Jiso was at best third-rate. Among the village men with somewhat decent aptitude, one might reach low second-rate.
But even that was far better than nothing. In fact, a second-rate martial artist could handle the work of one person adequately.
This was in the relatively stable righteous martial world, where even a second-rate martial artist could serve as an escort leader for a small merchant caravan.
Finally, Kang Jiso added one more thing.
"Come back young enough that I can comfortably call you sister again."
Only then did Tu Hui smile silently.
She looked around at her surroundings. The other villagers seemed to have no intention of trying to hold her back either.
Deep down, they knew it too. Though Tu Hui had committed great sins, she wasn't someone meant to stay in a small village like this. And the devotion she had shown until now had been a bit more than what the people of this modest village deserved.
However, one old woman, who had gone to fetch storyteller Xuehua when Cheonpae had invaded not long ago, chimed in after hearing Kang Jiso.
"Come back? Now even Nan-hyang has to find her own life. She's not a child who fits in with our village anymore. If you leave now, don't even think about returning."
"Pardon?"
The old woman's words went even further than Kang Jiso's. It left not only Tu Hui but even Kang Jiso a bit flustered.
"Would Nan-hyang have dreamed of a future like this when she was young? Now it's time for her to find her own path. For someone who lost her way, she's wandered far too long already."
"No, that's not quite..."
"You're Wijinanhyang, aren't you? If your name had been Wijisilhyeong, meaning lost direction, I might have told you to settle down here since you'd already lost your way. But it's Wijinanhyang, hard to head toward. It might be difficult to find the path, but someday you'll find it and move on—that's the right thing."
It was a play on words. Wijinanhyang's name actually meant the fragrance of orchids.
But the old woman's words captured the feelings of both her and the villagers well.
Kang Jiso looked at Wijinanhyang with a complex expression, let out a deep sigh, and finally spoke to her.
"Yes. Go."
"Kid, that's..."
"It's not like I'm telling you never to come back at all. Visiting once or twice when you think of us is fine. But don't think about settling down here for good. Go find your own life now, sister."
Having been together for so long, she couldn't completely hide her reluctance. Kang Jiso's voice was filled with lingering attachment.
That was precisely why she couldn't take back her words. If she held Wijinanhyang back now, she could never tell her to leave again, and Wijinanhyang truly wouldn't be able to go.
Tu Hui Wijinanhyang gratefully accepted the sentiments of Kang Jiso and the villagers.
The next day, Tu Hui set off with Dang Mujin's group.
*
The group's pace wasn't particularly fast. The first reason was the fear that if they dashed along using lightness skills in excitement, Wijinanhyang's barely mending ribs might break again. The second was Yeom Physician's immature lightness skill attainment.
Even though Yeom Physician's lightness skill was far superior to his swordsmanship or fist techniques. It was only natural, since he had only recently begun learning martial arts.
Hwa Yeon Nun said to Dang Mujin.
"Then, see you next time."
"Yes. Thank you for your help."
Hwa Yeon Nun and Tu Hui were to part ways with the group in Zhongjing.
As always, Hwa Yeon Nun would stay in Zhongjing and occasionally visit the Dang family estate.
Watching the departing figures of Hwa Yeon Nun and Tu Hui, Dang Mujin pondered Tu Hui's future.
What would become of Tu Hui's future?
Would she settle in Zhongjing after Hwa Yeon Nun, becoming the second leader of the Lowly Gate and caring for the downtrodden?
Or would she achieve rejuvenation and return to Samgu Village?
Would she achieve rejuvenation, hide her past, and venture into the Central Plains martial world to live a new life?
Or would she fail to rejuvenate, remain trapped in her madness, and die that way?
It was impossible to know. It all depended entirely on Tu Hui herself.
Dang Mujin knew that among the many possibilities, the last one was the most likely. But somehow, he felt it wouldn't come to that.
As the old woman from Samgu Village had said, Wijinanhyang would find her own path, no matter how hard it was.
People tend to live up to their names, after all—even if it's a name given in jest.
*
While passing through Zhongjing on their way to Chengdu in Sichuan Province, Namgung Myeong said to Dang Mujin.
"Why are you dawdling so much?"
"Oh, just..."
He hadn't told his friends, but the closer they got to Sichuan Province, the more a creeping fear enveloped Dang Mujin. Any man returning home after being away for a year would feel something similar. The fear and guilt of a family head who had abandoned his home were profoundly deep.
In the end, Dang Mujin's steps slowed to a halt, and Namgung Myeong grumbled.
"What now?"
"Well... you know."
He needed a moment to mentally prepare himself before going home.
As Dang Mujin thought about the road to Chengdu, he came up with a suitable excuse.
"Hong Geolgae, how about we visit Zhuul Village after so long? We can just veer off a bit on the way."
"Zhuul Village? Sounds good to me."
Hong Geolgae perked up considerably. But the others, excluding Hong Geolgae and Dang Mujin, didn't know where Zhuul Village was. They just thought it sounded vaguely familiar.
Yeom Physician asked.
"Where is Zhuul Village?"
"It's Hong Geolgae's hometown."
It was also the village where Dang Mujin had first met Hong Geolgae, and where Dang Mujin had faced his first life-threatening crisis.
Dang Mujin vividly remembered how terrifying the Ja-yang Twin Killers had been back then. He had fled immediately upon encountering them, then wandered back in a daze.
Hong Geolgae said to the other friends.
"It's also where I ate my first spiritual herb. You've heard of Black Peony? I climbed the mountain behind Zhuul Village and got it."
Worried someone might object, Dang Mujin jumped straight to the spiritual herb story, skipping the details. Sure enough, Hyun-gong took the bait.
"You got Black Peony from that village?"
"Yeah. I dug up fresh Black Peony and ate it right away. Just brushed off the dirt from the root and chomped it down whole..."
Hyun-gong fell into thought. Spiritual herbs tend to grow in clusters, so even if Black Peony was gone, there might be lesser ones nearby, one or two grades lower.
The chances were slim, but there could even be something far rarer than Black Peony. It might have been a side find—who knows. Spiritual herbs thrive in remote, uninhabited places.
Of course, that was wishful thinking. The Black Peony from Zhuul Village had been half-artificially cultivated using a clear stream and the corpses of numerous animals.
But Dang Mujin didn't bother explaining that far.
Hong Geolgae was the first to voice approval. He wanted to visit Ma Jeon-gae's grave anyway, and to show the villagers who he had become.
"Yeah. Let's go check it out after so long. No objections, right?"
He was curious how they'd react to hearing that the village troublemaker beggar had become one of the top experts in the righteous martial world.
Hong Geolgae still harbored deep resentment toward the villagers.
Even after slaying the Ja-yang Twin Killers, he hadn't forgotten the cold shoulder they gave him.
He clearly remembered being treated like he didn't exist, relying only on his bare hands and a stick to bury Ma Jeon-gae alone outside the village.
Dang Mujin immediately gathered opinions and made the decision.
"Alright. We're going to Hong Geolgae's hometown. No objections, right?"
Of course, he made sure to frame it as going for Hong Geolgae's sake, not his own.
*
"...Hey, how do you not know the way to your own hometown?"
"It happens."
Dang Mujin had to lead the way to Zhuul Village instead of Hong Geolgae.
At first glance, it might seem odd that Hong Geolgae didn't know the way home, but upon reflection, it wasn't particularly strange.
When they first met, Hong Geolgae had been half-lost, hadn't he? He had no sense of direction.
Moreover, he had never returned to Zhuul Village once after leaving. He knew the inside like the back of his hand with his eyes closed, but the road leading there? Not so much.
It was fine, though. Hong Geolgae followed Dang Mujin with eager anticipation.
The closer they got to Zhuul Village, the more his heart swelled.
How would the villagers look at him now? Just imagining it was thrilling. The village rascal returning as a mighty martial arts master—what a tale straight out of legend.
He wondered about the reaction of Aunt Yi, who had subtly shown displeasure at his frequent begging for food, and the village girls who had treated him like he was invisible.
"Here it is."
Finally, the small village came into view.
Zhuul Village looked even more shabby and cramped than he remembered.
Unlike Samgu Village, which they had left not long ago, Zhuul Village's poverty wasn't temporary.
It was too remote, and the land wasn't suitable for farming, so anyone living there was doomed to poverty.
Hong Geolgae squared his shoulders and strode ahead into the village.
He planned to boldly approach the village head, who had once seemed as lofty as the heavens in his childhood, and request a place to stay the night.
Hong Geolgae fiddled with the dagger in his bosom.
It was the prize he had won along with the cash at the Wuchang tournament. Not very practical, but adorned with all sorts of jewels, it was undoubtedly extremely valuable.
He intended to offer this dagger at his master Ma Jeon-gae's grave. If the impoverished villagers found and took it, he wouldn't scold them—he'd be lenient. If they saw it as Ma Jeon-gae's blessing, he'd be more than happy.
He had even entered the tournament under Ma Jeon-gae Hong Gyeon's name, imagining this very moment.
Anyone who knew Ma Jeon-gae well would eventually suspect the connection between Ma Jeon-gae Hong Gyeon and Cheonryeonggae Hong Gyeon. He was ready to welcome such suspicions gladly.
Hyun-gong shared his impressions.
"It's a small village."
"Yeah. Small and poor."
As Hong Geolgae led the group into the village, the villagers' gazes naturally focused on them, just as expected.
However, before long, Hong Geolgae noticed something strange. The faces were all unfamiliar.
A few unknown faces wouldn't have mattered.
People age and change, or newcomers might move in. Who would move to such a godforsaken, poverty-stricken backwater? Well, anyway.
But that wasn't it. He didn't recognize a single face.
Moreover, the people coming and going in the village had all learned martial arts, albeit at a low level. Dozens of them, mostly low first-rate or second-rate. The majority had sustained wounds of various sizes, their injuries wrapped in rags.
Bewildered by the bizarre situation, a man with a bushy chin beard that covered half his neck approached. He exuded the aura of a gang leader. From his gait and eyes, his skill seemed around the cusp of first-rate.
The man asked Hong Geolgae.
"So... where are you from?"
"...Pardon?"
"You wouldn't just wander into this dump. Someone must have sent you here."
"No one sent us..."
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm from this village. Returning after a few years, but I don't recognize anyone. Where did all the original residents go?"
As Hong Geolgae answered, the atmosphere among the surrounding people grew tense.
The bushy-bearded man gave a faint smile.
"You can find out by following them!"
Suddenly, the man drew his sword and swung at Hong Geolgae.
But the man's blade was lightly caught between Hong Geolgae's index and middle fingers.
"Wha...?"
Hong Geolgae glared at the man with blazing eyes and said.
"Where. Did. Everyone. Go?"