Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Five Stone Powder
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It wasn't long after Dang Mujin woke up that Yi Chung entered.
But instead of asking about the state of his unique energy or his physical condition, Yi Chung started grumbling right away.
"Couldn't you have woken up two days earlier? Why'd it take you so damn long?"
"It wasn't something that could end quickly. Did something happen in the meantime?"
"You bet it did."
Yi Chung grumbled as he laid out the story, but the gist was simple. Two days ago, Namgung Jincheon had left the Namgung Clan on some urgent business.
Dang Mujin shrugged.
"That can happen. He's a busy guy, and we can't expect him to wait around for days just for a spar."
"You have no idea how rare an opportunity it is to spar with one of the Six Supremes."
Dang Mujin himself didn't feel much regret, but Yi Chung was full of complaints. He must have had high hopes for that spar with Namgung Jincheon.
But what was done was done. Namgung Jincheon was gone, and no one knew when he'd return.
They had no intention of hunkering down in the Namgung Clan for months without a timeline. The group packed lightly and prepared to leave.
Once the three were ready to depart, the Namgung Clan's chief steward arranged a carriage and driver for them. It wasn't one owned by the clan. The Namgung people mastered horsemanship as a basic skill, so when traveling far, they rode horses instead of carriages.
"You're heading to Luoyang, right? Rest as comfortably as you can until you reach Henan."
"Thank you."
The three climbed aboard the rattling carriage and set off.
*
While the carriage moved, Dang Mujin focused all his efforts on regulating his unique energy and unique qi.
But it wasn't easy. The road was bumpy, making the carriage jolt endlessly.
By Dang Mujin's common sense, Qi Circulation and Breathing was something you did in a stable, quiet place with a calm mindset.
After visiting the Namgung Clan, that belief had only solidified.
Wandering the grounds, you'd easily spot people seated in quiet spots circulating their qi, or warriors sparring with disciplined form.
Dang Mujin's Qi Circulation so far had been far from serene.
Out of ten sessions, eight were outdoors, with beast cries echoing constantly and insects biting everywhere. Whenever he tried to concentrate a bit, Yi Chung or Hong Geolgae would strike up a conversation.
It was the same now. Just as he tried to focus inside the carriage, Yi Chung interrupted with some trivial chatter.
"Those Namgung warriors train without interruptions, all calm and focused. Can't I do that too?"
Dang Mujin griped irritably, and Yi Chung offered an unexpected explanation.
"That's the way for guys holed up in their sect all day training. Fine for a Daoist chasing enlightenment and ascension, but not something I'd recommend for a martial artist."
"Why not?"
"Getting used to uninterrupted training means you can't perform when variables creep in. Your internal energy builds fast, and you excel at rigid spars or duels, but in real combat, you flounder and get killed by inferiors. All while leaving behind last words like, 'To use such卑鄙 tricks!'"
"Hmm."
Yi Chung leaned back against the carriage wall and continued. Hong Geolgae listened closely too.
"If you're preparing for real combat, training in such artificial conditions isn't ideal. That's why unorthodox martial artists progress slower in realm but are far more practical."
"I thought unorthodox and dark path warriors grew faster at first?"
When Dang Mujin asked, Yi Chung gave him a strange look.
"Ridiculous. How could they reach higher realms faster learning crude arts in harsh conditions? Aside from a few special demonic arts, prestigious righteous sect disciples advance much quicker. But in fights between equals, dark path wins nine times out of ten. The trend fades after peak realm, but for second- or first-rate, it's almost without exception."
"Surprising. I figured righteous sect warriors would win."
Yi Chung chuckled.
"Righteous sect warriors obsess over realms in this weird way. Pure internal energy, pristine sword qi, profound swordsmanship—stuff like that. Look at Namgung Myeong. That guy's at the edge of first-rate, but he only just left on his first outing. A first-rater with barely any real combat experience? Makes no sense."
Dang Mujin recalled his boat spar with Namgung Myeong.
Namgung Myeong's stance was unstable from the rocking boat, and he struggled with sudden slashes or strikes.
Of course, in a serious fight, Namgung Myeong would win, but Dang Mujin didn't think he had zero chance. If he exploited gaps well, he might even land a lucky blow.
"Yeah, you're right."
"If you and Namgung Myeong dueled properly with swords a hundred times, he'd win every one. But if it was kill-or-be-killed with no holds barred, you'd have a twenty percent shot. Right?"
Dang Mujin nodded. Using poison instead of a fair fight, throwing weapons, stabbing from behind—he could see a real chance.
"Learn to fight without patterns. First step: get used to uncomfortable situations. If one method fails, think of another. If conditions don't allow, adapt. Those are the ones who win and survive."
"...Feels like I'm turning into an unorthodox martial artist."
"Your training style isn't prestigious righteous sect anyway. Real combat over meditation. Dynamic over seated cultivation. Each has pros and cons."
Dang Mujin pondered until the jolting carriage finally stopped.
Yi Chung, using training as an excuse, naturally shoved meal prep onto Dang Mujin.
*
Days passed like that, and the group left Anhui for Henan.
"Safe travels."
The Namgung-arranged carriage fulfilled its role and turned back.
They figured they'd walk straight to Luoyang from Henan now, but less than half a day later, they encountered a merchant caravan. Over ten people, pulling five carts piled high with goods.
Dang Mujin quickly approached the merchants.
The carts were loaded, so riding would be tough, but traveling with them offered conveniences.
Not fast, but no getting lost. Mostly indoor lodging, and if camping, easy meals sticking close. Especially with their money.
"Where are you headed?"
"Who are you folks?"
Maybe the sword at his waist seemed threatening. The merchants were visibly wary.
"We're travelers bound for Luoyang. Mind if we join if our paths overlap?"
"Our caravan's nearly done, heading back near Baekam Mountain, so directions match, but..."
Dang Mujin spoke in the mild, affable tone unique to physicians.
"Paths overlap anyway—better to travel together than awkwardly separate. Plus, I'm a physician; I can treat minor ailments."
"You're a physician?"
"Care to let me check your pulse?"
Dang Mujin took the merchant's wrist and drew out the mugwort's medicinal qi from his unique energy, pushing it into the man's wrist. Mugwort's familiar, pleasant scent had no risk of side effects even roughly.
A faint, fragrant mugwort aroma spread, refreshing qi seeping through the wrist. The merchant's face brightened noticeably.
"Well now, not your average physician. Treating with just a pulse read."
It had nothing to do with pulse diagnosis, but no need to nitpick in this era.
Out of sight, Dang Mujin slipped a silver ingot into the merchant's sleeve.
"How could we refuse?"
The merchant's face lit up further. A tael from caravan profits versus a secret tael were different values.
"Hmm, chance to travel with a skilled physician? We should be begging you."
The merchant persuaded his companions, and soon accepted Dang Mujin's group into the caravan.
*
The merchants were easygoing, sociable, and quick to laugh, so they bonded fast with Dang Mujin's group.
Two days later, the caravan reached a village of about five hundred households. The merchants said amiably,
"Last stop before wrapping up the caravan."
"I see."
Looked like decent lodging and meals.
But before entering the village, a strange sight caught their eyes.
A man in fine silk robes. But his hair was a wild mess, clothes half-undone. His staggering gait was comical.
Hong Geolgae, intrigued, remarked,
"A beggar? Not a Beggars' Sect disciple. For a beggar in those clothes, must be a pretty prosperous village."
Unlike Hong Geolgae, Dang Mujin narrowed his eyes. He'd heard of people like this somewhere.
It didn't come to him right away. Where was it? Rummaging fuzzy memories, the weirdo staggered closer.
"Got the goods?"
"Of course. Shall I hand them over now?"
The merchant replied, and the weirdo's face lit up. Expecting something specific.
"No, no... no booze right now. Come by later."
The man shuffled off.
Dang Mujin pondered deeply. The weirdo had oddities beyond his clothes.
Face ghostly pale, but skin visible through open robes flushed red-hot like blooming fever. Still panting from heat despite undressing, tongue slurring, reeking of alcohol.
'Fever? No... not quite.'
Wondering if Yi Chung knew, Dang Mujin glanced over. His face was grim as expected.
But more anger and irritation than pity for the patient. Why that expression?
A thought struck: booze smell. And "goods."
Dang Mujin approached Yi Chung.
"Elder. That's Five Stone Powder intoxication, right?"
"Need a pulse to confirm, but looks like it."
Dang Mujin's face grew uneasy too. Hong Geolgae, clueless, asked,
"What's Five Stone Powder?"
"Also called Cold Stone Powder or Cold Food Powder. Ground powder from five stones: petroleum sulfur, cinnabar mirror, bell stone, white quartz, and red stone. Usually mixed with alcohol. Makes you feel good, body heats up."
"Sounds great?"
"No. Dangerous. Wander like that without venting heat, you die. Eat hot food, die. Even if you vent well, mind clouds over time, skin rots away—death."
"...Why take it?"
"Once you start, body craves it against your will. Can't quit."
Hong Geolgae eyed the staggering man, then turned.
Yi Chung's hand rested on his sword hilt, glaring coldly at the merchants.