He Has Returned
The man strode deeper without a hint of noticing their stares. And at last, into the depths of the underground where no gaze could reach. He unlocked the intricate mechanism known only to him and stepped inside, where a single ancient wardrobe stood alone, its surfaces marred here and there with scorch marks like remnants of fire.
The man, unflinching until now, hesitated before it for a moment before yanking open its doors with savage force, as if to smash them.
Atop the wardrobe's shelves sat just two items: a slender metal case and a circular plate densely engraved with characters.
The man shoved the plate aside and opened the metal case. His hands trembled slightly.
"To think it's back here..."
Inside the case lay only thin pillar-shaped ashes, as if incense had been burned and left as is. When he pressed them with his fingertip, they scattered into fine gray particles.
"Hahaha..."
Laughter spilled from the man, echoing through the underground chamber.
He stared at the ash on his fingertip for a very long time. Then, finally, he threw his head back and burst into mad cackles.
"Hahaha! I've returned! I've come back!"
His booming voice shook the chamber. The ashes in the metal case quivered faintly.
And with that, he hurled the case to the floor.
Clang!
The ashes, barely holding their shape, crumbled to powder, and the case rolled across the ground. The man stomped down on it. Cracks spiderwebbed the floor as the case crumpled.
"Ha! Hahaha! Foolish Cheonhwa-ryun! You thought the world was yours! You thought you'd beaten me!"
The space trembled with his maniacal laughter.
"Euhahaha! Thanks to you, I've returned! You burned me to ash thinking you'd end me, but you never dreamed I'd burned the Soul-Reversing Incense alongside!"
By the time his voice escaped the chamber, echoing and reverberating, it felt only like a terrifying vibration that chilled the soul.
Overwhelmed by the sheer force, those keeping watch on the wine cellar prostrated themselves in unison, though no man stood before them. Wet splashes echoed from pools of blood.
After laughing for a long while, the man turned his gaze to the disc beside the crumpled case.
"The Divine Finger Needle... so it truly is the sect's treasure."
It was then.
The needle at the disc's center spun furiously before pointing east.
The man's eyes gleamed with madness as he stared down at it. He tucked the disc into his bosom and left the underground chamber—leaving the door wide open this time, unlike when he'd entered.
Outside in the sunlight, he glanced at his forearm. The rotting flesh had improved slightly but still mingled with wounds, reeking unpleasantly.
"Burn more incense! And..."
A crowd gathered around him. The man declared,
"We must send men east. There's something we need to retrieve. Something most precious."
In the heart of the Central Plains, the fishy scent of Dongting Lake drifted from afar. The man laughed on for a long while.
* * *
"As the inner matriarch, I'll stay behind and manage the estate."
Wijicheong smiled gently. Danmok Hyeon-yo looked somewhat uncomfortable but said nothing.
This was the meeting to decide who from the estate would attend the Kyunghang Yunryeon and who would remain to oversee things.
Danmok Cheon-gi, who had secluded himself almost entirely for so long, was finally heading to the Namgung estate to meet old comrades after many years. It was settled that the children and outer matriarch would go too.
"With so many young children, it would be best if the outer matriarch and pharmacy master accompanied them to look after everyone."
Danmok Hyeon-u flinched, his face paling slightly.
"Uh, w-well, wouldn't it be better for the inner matriarch to go in that case? Ryeonie's going too. I'll stay and watch over Bi."
Danmok Bi had thrown a massive tantrum about following his sister but was deemed too young and left behind.
Wijicheong smiled warmly.
"Isn't the purpose of the Kyunghang Yunryeon to unite the clans, foster exchange among the juniors, and advance martial prowess? You've only been once as a child, Pharmacy Master, so you must attend this time."
With such a large age gap between Danmok Hyeon-seong and Danmok Hyeon-u, the latter sometimes felt like Wijicheong's eldest son when they stood side by side.
Danmok Hyeon-yo shot her compliant younger brother a glare, inwardly sighing. She opened her mouth to speak, but Wijicheong just smiled and shook her head.
"With Master Seok as outer deputy matriarch and Yuseong's Danmok Han-so staying behind, what worries could there be?"
Seok Ban-an, Danmok Hyeon-yo's husband, had recently become deputy outer matriarch and helped recruit branch disciples—surprisingly enjoying the work.
"And with three disciples going but seven remaining, we must tend to them too. Lord Yuseong is of course a fine teacher, but..."
Danmok Han-so of Yuseong wasn't exactly gifted at carefully minding children.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Thus, the group bound for Nambulg Ryeoseong was set.
On the dawn of departure, the estate folk gathered and headed to Hangzhou's Tianfei Palace.
Typically a place to pray for safe voyages before long sea journeys, they stopped here first since the eldest grandchild, risen from her sickbed, and the retired patriarch were traveling together.
"Want to ride in the carriage?"
Ryeon settled Hwaryun, whose face was stiff, into the carriage and fussed over him.
Hwaryun's expression had been grim since they set out for the Kyunghang Yunryeon. Suspecting he hated going to the Namgung estate, she'd offered to let him stay, but he refused—so here he was, still heavy-faced.
"Ryun, you're not seasick, are you?"
"N-no... I'm fine."
"Then rest in the carriage. I can go alone..."
"No, I want to go with you, Nui."
"Scared to be alone?"
Hwaryun looked incredulous, then clamped his mouth shut. It wasn't full spring yet; a chill wind blew through the open doors, so he grabbed the new windbreaker cloak.
They'd nearly failed to make a fine garment, but thankfully, the nanny's sister was skilled and helped out.
Hwaryun hopped down first and offered Ryeon his hand. She could dismount alone but took it without refusal.
"I'm not cold at all, so you wear it, Ryun. Winter's long gone."
"What nonsense? It's still basically winter, even if early spring."
He grumbled, lips pouting as he urged her to drape it on quickly.
Hwaryun clutched the cloak's hem and stuck close to Ryeon's side. She stifled a laugh, thinking even an adult-acting Hwaryun must be scared in this unfamiliar place.
At the Tianfei Palace entrance, Ryeon glanced up at her slightly dazed-looking grandfather beside her.
To think Grandpa believes in superstitions like this.
The temple to the ancient sea goddess Mazu bustled with travelers, but all fell silent upon seeing Danmok Cheon-gi. Half from the savage scars crossing his face, half from recognizing him as the Danmok retired patriarch.
"Why that face?"
"I just didn't expect you'd come to a place like this."
"Surprised this old man believes in superstitions?"
"...!"
Does he have Divine Eye too?
"When you reach my age, you'll understand a grandfather's heart."
As Danmok Cheon-gi murmured, the estate folk entered, and the managing Daoists rushed out to greet them.
"This is the Qinglian Water our eldest made herself, and this is the new Baekyakcheong. We've also brought several seom of grains and candles to light the nights."
Danmok Hyeon-yo stepped forward to explain the offerings, and the Daoists gazed delightedly at the lined jars. Qinglian Water was legendary for aiding top perfumery exam ranks—and now priceless!
Only the head Daoist remained composed, welcoming them warmly.
"Oh, no need for such generous gifts... Please, come inside first."
The shrine with Mazu's statue was far quieter than the outer halls. A Daoist handed them incense, and Danmok Cheon-gi lit the tips without tools, distributing to the household.
"Gasp!"
"Samadhi True Fire...!"
Gasps of awe rose from the surrounding crowd.