Jilin (9)

75. Jilin (9)

The plum blossoms had now surpassed one hundred. Some pierced through the Taiji and left sword marks on me, but I was still holding on. Since it wasn't a proper duel anyway, I had abandoned all offense and poured every ounce of my strength solely into defense, but this level of attack and defense was not something a guy like me could even aspire to. In the end, the plum blossoms swelled once more. Now grown to one hundred eighty-four blossoms, an utterly insane number, I finally allowed a strike to my back and lowered my sword, and all the plum blossoms vanished like melting snow.

"Remarkable! I had misunderstood. I worried that despite receiving a fated opportunity, you might have forgotten the sword of the Dao, for you are unmistakably a Daoist. You said Yeongsan Sect, was it? A sect that inherited the true teachings of Wudang?"

With my heart about to burst and barely able to breathe, I managed to circulate the One Microcosmic Orbit and answered Reverend Hwa-il.

"No. We are the descendants of Maoshan."

"Maoshan? That is a little unexpected, but Wudang's Taiji Sword is famous throughout the world, so it is not strange. Still, it is regrettable. Wudang's prestige in the martial world surpasses Mount Hua's, but Mount Hua is truly the progenitor of Daoist learning. Mount Hua possesses a deeper history than Wudang, which is only two hundred years old. Yet Daoist sects not descended from Wudang, such as yours, all revere the Taiji Sword."

Well, that's because your Plum Blossom Sword Art is out of the question for a dullard like me, isn't it? Anyway, just like the Moonlit Divine Sword, the Illusory Sword type with all its deceptive variations was truly a sword that selected for innate talent.

"If only your internal energy backed it up, you could head to Henan and even aim for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. You must train harder."

"I have no intention of aiming for the Eight Dragons."

"I see... Right. A martial artist should, since ancient times, follow their own martial art rather than empty fame. Come visit Mount Hua someday. Mount Hua is always open to any Daoist who walks the path of Daoist studies."

Reverend Hwa-il descended from the training ground in high spirits. Was he secretly pleased that I had trampled Wudang's Taiji?

"Son! Amazing! You lasted even longer than your old man!"

My father spoke with an excited face.

"Well, it wasn't a duel for me. Except for the very beginning, I was just enduring."

"Hyung. You are truly remarkable. That Taiji Sword was not a fated opportunity, was it? Did you learn it from your sect?"

"All our sect has is Daoist studies and Taiji Art. And a fated opportunity isn't that big of a deal. Martial arts of masters from hundreds of years ago are rotting in piles to the point of overflowing in prestigious houses. I've only just taken half a step behind them."

I handled the two excited people appropriately and drank the tea a servant handed me.

—Yeongmok. Do you feel anything?—

—It's fucking brutal.—

—Not that. Don't thoughts like, if I had dodged this way, or attacked that way, come to mind?—

—No, they don't? Ah! I do definitely feel that I've gotten stronger than I thought.—

—Haa... As I thought, your talent is indeed below the level of a common dunce. It should have been enough to gain at least a small clue, if not full enlightenment. But don't worry. We will make sure to make you strong.—

I'm scared. Flame Emperor's grand promise truly terrifies me. He can really do it. He had made me this strong in just this short amount of time. Even if a martial artist on the level of the Black Heaven Association Leader or Murong Hyeok-jung is too much, I felt like I could at least reach the level of Murong Sang or Heuk Cheon-gyeon, who were among the Top Hundred Masters. No, he will train me until I actually reach that level. Because that pain is as guaranteed as that future, I am truly terrified right now.

—That last strike. How many variations did you confirm?—

—One hundred and eighty-four.—

—As expected, imprinting through the body suits you far better than theory!—

Flame Emperor spoke cheerfully. And behind him, Moon Immortal was laughing happily, giggling.

—A long history does not make Mount Hua the progenitor of Daoism. That was Taiji learned in only one day. Give me more time in your body from now on. Once you properly master the Taiji Wisdom Sword and then the Wuji Sword, we can show that Mount Hua Daoist exactly what the true sword of Daoism is.—

Had Reverend Hwa-il's final words bruised Reverend Heo San's pride? He snapped, uncharacteristically. Though he seemed like a solemn Taoist master in some ways, I felt he was ultimately a swordsman at heart.

—Mount Hua can claim the strongest Illusory Sword of this era only because the Moonlit Divine Sword has not yet appeared in it. Among the Four Heroes of our era stood Reverend Heo San of Wudang, but no Mount Hua Daoist. Even if you cannot learn the Moonlit Divine Sword, Reverend, once you become accustomed to my blade, neither thousands of plum blossoms nor being surrounded by Sword Fragrance will trouble you.—

Moon Immortal flaunted her pride in the Illusory Sword while subtly raising the hurdle. I thought martial artists of this level wouldn't have such childish pride, but looking at the Black Heaven Association Leader or Moon Immortal, it confirms that martial arts and mental cultivation are completely separate things.

—The Wuji Sword executed with Flame Aura is unbalanced no matter what. We must quickly achieve the Union of Yin and Yang.—

Flame Aura, Wuji Sword, Union of Yin and Yang. Legendary martial arts were being rattled off like the name of the neighbor's dog. Were these people seriously planning to turn me into a monster that only appears in legends?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠—[I am sorry. I do not seem to be of much help ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to you. But once I meet that child, I will at least cook you a warm meal. I truly hope our food suits your taste.]—

—[Medicine Immortal, I am the most grateful to you. And I like Joseon food.]—

With absolutely no energy left in my body, I hurriedly said goodbye to my father and left the Baek Clan Estate. When I let Flame Emperor inhabit my body, he finished circulating qi in an instant while walking and restored vitality to my body. And... now all that was left was a sprint using the Flame Blossom Steps all the way to the Yeongsan Sect.

—Moon Immortal.—

—Yes. Reverend. What is it?—

—Pick out some ornaments for me.—

I stopped by Shenyang for a moment, entered a large shop, and chose presents for them. I'm totally hopeless at things like this, and Medicine Immortal didn't seem to like overly flashy decorations either, so I asked Moon Immortal. Obviously, we couldn't float a sword around inside the shop, so I used the Spirit Possession Art. After scanning numerous ornaments here and there, she went to a neighboring store and gazed for a long time, then returned to the first store and looked around for ages before finally picking out six ornaments from the very first store we entered. I emptied my mind and chatted with Reverend Hwangseong during this insanely inefficient behavior, but I felt the muscles on my face unconsciously spread into a pleased smile. Just as liking sweet things transcends eras, it seemed women truly loved shopping, even in this era—no, even in the Yuan Dynasty era. This was the first time I had let a woman's soul enter my body, but I didn't feel any particular sensation.

After that, I filled my stomach with a simple bowl of noodles at an inn, and then the thousand-li march—no, the marathon—began again. Honestly, I welcomed this kind of training. My physical fatigue was unavoidable, but moving my body and circulating True Qi were all handled by Flame Emperor. The problem was that during the run, Flame Emperor and the Four Heroes constantly and repeatedly lectured me on incomprehensible, high-dimensional principles of martial arts. That was a bit painful.

The round trips between Shenyang and Yeongsan had repeated several times now, but somehow the time it took was getting shorter and shorter. The distance that took a week by an escort agency cart had shrunk to just three days, and I was finally able to arrive at the village in front of Yeongsan.

"Hyung!"

As soon as I entered Yeongsan territory, a bandit greeted me happily. Several bandits had set up a table right at the foot of the mountain and were hanging around.

"Are you guys still playing bandit?"

"No, we aren't! What kind of bandits rob people right under the village's nose like this? This is a new business."

"Business?"

"It's something like an escort agency for travelers... Ah. Please wait a moment."

Three men carrying bundles climbed the slope behind me, and the bandit hurried toward them. Their yellow clothes did nothing to reassure the men when the bandits wore enormous wolf-fang blades—the very symbol of banditry—across their backs.

"Wh... What is it, Great Hero?"

"We, the mountain men of the White Tiger Sect, have come here to assist your mountain journey."

"Ah... No! Don't tell me you're collecting a toll fee even from here? Isn't this too much!"

Normally, no one could stand up to a bandit so boldly, but because the village with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the magistrate's office was right behind them, the man mustered the courage to speak.

"No. We are not Green Forest bandits. It's not a toll fee. We've come to help you cross the mountain comfortably. See, this mountain might look low, but if you go inside, the paths are treacherous and complicated, and fierce beasts live there. But don't worry. If you just pay two silver taels, we will escort you safely."

"T-Two taels! That's too much! We aren't a merchant company, we're just trinket peddlers!"

"Then I'll give you a discount. One tael."

The bandit spoke shamelessly. When one man took out a piece of silver and handed it over, the others tried to stop him.

"What are you doing!"

"I have no time to wait. If I don't get moving fast, I'll have to pay not one but ten taels. So I'll be going."

The bandit who received the silver from the man grinned brightly.

"Wh... What kind of law is this? I cannot pay! I will report this to the authorities!"

"Report? Why? Did I do something?"

"Didn't you just threaten us?"

"When did I? If you don't want to use the service, then don't. What report?"

"Th... Then you mean you won't harm us even if we don't pay the silver?"

"Of course. I told you. We aren't bandits. Ah. Do you recognize this? We are the White Tiger Sect. Part of the Martial Alliance."

The bandit proudly showed a Wooden Token. One of the men recognized the token and was startled.

"Sir. I have already paid, so may I depart first? I must hurry."

The man who paid the silver seemed genuinely rushed and urged the bandit.

"Geum-hwan! Escort the customer!"

At those words, a bandit sitting next to the table approached the man and said.

"Let's go."

"Huh? Sir, are you coming with me?"

"I told you. We'll escort you well."

The guy called Geum-hwan grumbled and took the lead, not on the original main ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠road, but on a small path newly cut through the trees.

"Sir! That's not the way!"

"No. This is a path we made. If you go this way, two days is enough. If your luggage is heavy, I can carry it, but that costs an extra silver tael."

Geum-hwan spoke while yawning. After hesitating on whether to trust him or not, the man finally followed him.

"T-Two days? Is that the truth?"

"Jeez. Have you spent your whole life getting scammed?"

"If this is a lie, I'll report you to the Martial Alliance, not the authorities!"

"This is unpleasant. For you, it's two taels with no discount."

The disbelieving man and the man who took out the silver. The two men's judgments split.

"Hey! Get a hold of yourself! If you follow them and something bad happens, what good are reports and the like? You'll be buried in this vast mountain!"

"Ha... But. I am also late! If I can really arrive within two days, one tael is..."

"Do you think a mountain path is a mountain path for nothing? It's a path where the scent of people has soaked in over a long period, so beasts don't come. A newly made path like that is clearly a wild animal trail!"

The bandit sneered at the maybe experienced, disbelieving man's words and spoke resolutely.

"You worry too much. With us, the White Tiger Sect, here, could mere beasts run rampant? Besides, I said we aren't bandits, right? Even if you meet real bandits, don't worry. The guys causing trouble around here, I'll crush their heads."

The bandit spoke confidently, tapping his huge Wolf Fang Blade. These guys were definitely first-rate when it came to hunting. Since they used to be part of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds, they were an elite group even among bandits.

"So, are you gonna use it or not?"

"Give me the one-tael discount too, please."

"We just opened for business, so this is the only time. Gang-son!"

Bandit B stood up and led the way down the small path. Though anxious, the man followed him into the mountain path, and the last man ultimately climbed the mountain along the original road.

Worrying that the bandits might ambush him from behind.

"Ah, hyung, you can go that way as well. Yeongsan Sect is busy with surveying and construction, so they prepared temporary quarters."

After saying what he wanted to say to me, the guy yawned and sat back down. What on earth had been happening at Yeongsan while I was away?

When I entered the new path, the two men who had left earlier had already joined up and were walking together. It seemed the bandits also wanted to walk and chat, and the men were too anxious to be alone, so the four of them decided to go together. As luck would have it, I, who looked like a martial artist, entered the path, and the two men were overjoyed. I felt sorry for them and wanted to keep an eye on whether these bastard bandits really were guiding them through the mountain path, so I walked with them.

"U... Sir. But if we take this path, we can't stop by an inn, can we? The sun seems about to set, don't tell me we have to sleep on the mountain path?"

"Don't worry. There's an incredible inn. Look forward to it, the Yeongsan Lodge, directly operated by our Great Tiger Gate."

"Surely you aren't saying we have to pay a lot of silver there too?"

"It's somewhat expensive—five taels of silver per night. Still, the food is excellent, and the lodge is newly built."

"F-F-Five taels?!"

"I knew it. Merchants, honestly. If you don't like it, you can camp. We've agreed to keep you safe until the village over there, so you can sleep comfortably in front of the campfire."

The two men were at a loss in the face of the bandits' incomprehensible antics. Eventually, before sunset, they arrived at the Yeongsan Lodge the bandits had spoken of.

A few large mountain huts and a big yard in front of them. A huge campfire roared in the middle of the yard, watched over by a few bandits, so it didn't look like a bad camping spot. No. For being in the mountains, this was a pretty excellent set-up, wasn't it?

"Here. Choose. You can sleep here, or if you want warm food and a cozy room, go to the Yeongsan Lodge reception desk over there."

Though half-doubting, the two men's jaws dropped because the bandit's words turned out to be true. They had already paid a large sum, and as merchants who didn't want to spend a single extra coin, they naturally tried to sit in the camping area and rest their weary bodies, but just then, the smell of Lee Eun-ha's cooking wafted softly into the center of the yard.

These bastards, they really were clever!!!